2009 Winter Wheat Performance Test Results

Shawn Conley, Paul Esker, Mark Martinka, John Gaska, and Karen Lackerman

Wisconsin saw a 10% decline in winter wheat acres planted (300,000) in the 2008-2009 growing season. The estimated yield for the 2009 crop is 63 bu per acre, down 7 percent from last year. The decline in winter wheat acres was caused by two factors: delayed corn and soybean harvest due to delayed crop maturity and high nitrogen input prices. The wheat crop that was established in a timely manner looked very good to excellent going into winter dormancy, however environmental conditions in February (lack of snow cover and driving arctic winds) led to significant winter injury at our Arlington and Chilton sites. Spring growing conditions were mostly favorable across the state though cooler than normal temperatures in May, June, and July delayed crop maturity, these temperatures also extended the grain fill period for winter wheat. 

Winter wheat yields were variable across our testing locations due to variable rainfall events, winterkill, and disease pressure. Wheat yields at the Lancaster and Janesville locations averaged 77 and 62 bu per acre, respectively. Wheat yield at Janesville was reduced due to delayed planting and late leaf rust infection. Adjusted wheat yields at Arlington and Chilton averaged 78 and 77 bu per acre, respectively and were affected by extensive winterkill. Winterkill data is extremely important to Wisconsin growers and is included along with yield data from these sites.

Our disease assessments of the winter wheat variety trials indicated that Septoria leaf blotch and wheat leaf rust were the two most predominant diseases. Other diseases observed in 2009 included powdery mildew, Fusarium head blight, wheat stripe rust, wheat stem rust, and Stagnospora glume blotch, although this varied by location and period of the growing season. There were reports at harvest that some fields had head scab levels testing higher than 2.0 ppm for DON, leading to grain dockage.

Results of this test will be available at www.coolbean.info no later than 5 PM. CST on August 19, 2009.