WHEAT - HARD RED SPRING

Spring wheat varieties are compared in replicated trial plots at Waseca, 
Lamberton, Morris, Crookston, Stephen, Roseau and St. Paul.

Only new varieties or varieties with better than susceptible reaction to scab are being 
tested. Variety descriptions do not provide information on scab resistance; table 
information should be used. Varieties are listed in maturity order. One hard white spring 
wheat, Argent, is also being tested.

Hard red spring wheat trials are not designed for crop (species) comparisons. Because the 
various crops are grown on different fields or with different management the data should 
only be used to compare varieties within a table.

Crop Background

The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station no longer makes recommendations for hard 
red spring wheat varieties. The basis on which recommendations were made in the past is 
no longer considered appropriate because of the severity of scab epidemics.

Scab epidemics in Minnesota's hard red spring wheat growing areas have demonstrated the 
clear need; to give greater weight to selecting varieties for their tolerance to this 
devastating disease. Consequently, only newly released varieties, whose reaction to scab 
has not been well-documented, and older varieties with scab ratings better than susceptible, 
are tested and described. Scab evaluations provide severity ratings, based on visual 
spread of the disease on the spike, and tolerance scores, which reflect the variety's 
ability to maintain plump, sound kernels. These ratings should be considered together 
to reduce risk of loss. To reduce risk, the use of different seeding dates and of more 
than one variety to provide different days to heading is highly recommended.

Calculating and seeding the appropriate amount of seed is an important first step towards 
maximizing yield. The seeding rate is a function of the number of kernels per pound of seed, 
the percent germination of the lot, the expected stand loss as a function of the quality of 
seedbed, and the desired stand. In Minnesota, an average optimum stand for hard red 
spring wheat when planted early is between 28 to 30 plants per square foot or approximately 
1.25 million plants per acre. This number should increase by 1 to 2 plants per square foot 
for every week planting is delayed past the early, optimum seeding date. Expected stand 
loss even under good seedbed conditions is between 10% to 20% and will increase with a 
poor seedbed or improper seed placement due to poor depth control.

The general formula for calculating a seeding rate is:

Seeding Rate (Pounds/Acre) = (Desired Stand in Plants/Acre) (1 + Expected Stand Loss)
				--------------------------------------------------
					[(Seeds/Pound) (Percentage Germination)]

Calculate the seeding rate for every single seed lot and calibrate the drill accordingly.

Example: Early variety

Desired Stand		Expected 	Seeds per	Percentage 	Seeding rate
(Plants/Acre)		Stand Loss	Pound 		Germination	(Lb/Acre)
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1.25 million		0.20		14,000		95		113