To evaluate the performance of selected spring wheat varieties in an agronomic production environment in Northwestern Montana.
Spring wheat varieties were planted on May 7th 2021 in a grower’s field near Big Fork in Flathead County MT (Table 1). The trial site was in a rain fed field with no supplemental irrigation. Starter fertilizer was broadcast at planting and included 14-14-20-6S lb/a, then was followed by a second dry spread fertilizer application 112-0-14-5S lb/a at the four tiller stage. Final nitrogen was applied as UAN at 88.5 lb/a when wheat reached the flag leaf stage. Opensky herbicide was applied at 1 pt/a to control annual weed species present in the field trial. No other crop protection products were applied. The height of each variety was recorded after heading. Plots were scored for lodging prior to harvest. Whole plots were harvested for yield on September 3rd 2021.
The 2021 growing season was a difficult year for spring wheat with high temperatures and below average precipitation. Average yield across the trial was 56 bushels/acre (Table 1). High yielding varieties include MT 1939, MT 1934, MT 1716, Vida, Reeder, MT 1931, SY Ingmar, and MY 1938, ranging from 64.2 to 58.8 bu/a. The highest protein producing varieties included MT1951 17.8%, Egan 17.7%, MT 1927 17.3%, Alum 17.3%, and SY Soren at 17.2% protein concentration (Table 1). Average test weight was 52.4 lb/bu. The two highest test weight varieties included MT 1904 and Alum with test weights of 55.7 and 54.5 lb/bu, respectively (Table 1). Three varieties had exceptionally high lodging scores at harvest, Corbin at 97%, MT 1716 at 80%, and MT 1931 at 62%. Although the lodging was severe, MT 1716 and MT 1931 were among the top yielding varieties.