THE 1970 SPRING WHEAT CROP
 The Statistical Reporting Service, USDA, reported:
 SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM
 
 			Acres (1000)		Yield (Bu/A)		Bushels (1000)
 State		1968	1969	1970	1968	1969	1970	1968	1969	1970
 
 N. Dakota	4,881	3,905	4,686	26.0	28.5	23.0	126,906	111,293	107,778
 S. Dakota	1,516	1,107	1,184	23.0	20.0	19.5	34,868	22,140	23,088
 Minnesota	912	730	781	33.0	29.5	27.5	30,096	21,535	21,478
 Montana		1,434	1,104	1,711	22.0	27.0	23.5	31,548	29,808	40,209
 U.S.A.		9,264	7,524	8,835	26.1	27.5	23.8	241,687	206,906	209,904
 
 COMMENTS ON GROWING CONDITIONS
 
 Some cooperators furnished brief descriptions of growing conditions and they are 
 summarized here to aid in interpreting results.
 
 Minnesota.  Planting was delayed 10-15 days due to a cool wet spring.  The average 
 temperature during June, July and August was 2.6? F above normal for St. Paul, Morris and 
 Crookston.  Precipitation was 1.2" below normal for the same period for three locations.  
 Both factors plus others reduced the yield markedly.  At St. Paul, stem and leaf rust 
 developed very well, resulting in a moderate to heavy infection.  Billbugs and stem 
 maggot caused 5-10% and 2% damage, respectively at St. Paul.
 
 South Dakota.  Moisture in April delayed seeding to early May.  Precipitation was 
 adequate to excessive until mid-June, followed by high temperatures and limited 
 precipitation.  This was the case over much of the state.  These unfavorable conditions 
 were evident in the low yield and test weight.
 
 North Dakota. Planting was delayed by about 10-20 days from the normal. A drought at 
 Fargo during the last 30 days of the season reduced yield, test weight and 1000 kernel 
 weight.
 
 Montana. A cool wet spring delayed planting about two weeks from the normal, but hot 
 weather during August hastened maturity. The crop was saved by heavy rain and cool 
 temperature during July. Leaf diseases caused less damage than was anticipated in dryland 
 experiments.
 
 Idaho. Very dry and warm conditions during the growing season, reduced the number of 
 tillers, height of the plant and yield.
 
 Canada. (Winnipeg) Nursery was not planted due to a very wet and cold spring.
 
 Conclusion The production of spring and durum wheat was about 90% of normal for the four 
 major spring wheat producing states in 1970. Average yield in bushels per acre for the 
 USA was 27.5 and 23.8 for 1969 and 1970, respectively. Similar trends were noted  in the 
 spring wheat region. Since rainfall, temperature and particularly delayed date of seeding 
 were unfavorable, reduced yields occurred.
 
 RESULTS FROM STATE-PLANNED YIELD TRIALS
 
 Agronomic data were obtained from 23 tests which were grown in Montana, South Dakota, 
 Wyoming and Minnesota. Data from individual stations are summarized in tables 1-1 to 
 1-23. Summary of agronomic data of entries grown at three or more locations, and ranked 
 according to Chris and Wells are presented in tables 2-1 to 2-4. The highest yielding 
 entries were MT6839, World Seeds1809, Fortuna and Era for Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming 
 and Minnesota, respectively.