Emi Kimura, Assistant Professor and Extension Agronomist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Vernon, TX
Emi.kimura@ag.tamu.edu
2020-2021 Cropping Season in Review
The wheat season started with mild soil temperature in the fall of 2020. However, dry condition persisted during planting season through March, which reduced forage production potential for dual-purpose and small grain pastures in the Rolling Plains. In addition to the lack of soil moisture, snowstorm in mid-February slowed the development of small grain, which further reduced forage production in the region. Although freeze injury was minimal in 2020/2021 season, there were spots of freeze injury in the wheat fields, especially in the lowland and water stressed areas, probably from the cold snaps in the early April. There were moderate pressures of stripe and leaf rust due to the high humidity conditions in April and May. Regardless of the dry winter conditions, cool temperatures and above average precipitation in April and May increased the grain yield potential. Although harvesting was delayed in the region due to the continuous rainfall in May and June, yields were above the long-term average in many areas.
Dryland Uniform Variety Trial (UVT) at Hardeman and Haskell County
Average grain yields and test weight were 55.1 bu/ac and 57.1 lb/bu for Hardeman Co. and 45.1 bu/ac and 58.8 lb/bu for Haskell Co. in 2020/2021 season. Rust pressure was higher in the Haskell County trial as compared to the Hardeman Co. trial. Variety trial results, including height, rust rating, yields and test weight for each trial site are available at Texas Rolling Plains Agronomy Website at https://agrilife.org/txrollingplainsagronomy/wheat-3/.
Dryland Dual-Purpose Variety Trial at Foard, Haskell, and Wilbarger County
Average forage and grain yields over the three trial sites were 1883 lb/ac and 40.8 bu/ac, respectively. The same set of varieties were planted next to the dual-purpose trial and managed as grain-only condition to compare the yield difference between dual-purpose and grain-only trials. Average yield of grain-only trial was 48.8 bu/ac over all varieties and three locations, resulting 8.0 bu/ac higher grain yield than the average yield of dual-purpose trial. The yield difference grain-only and dual-purpose trials was lower than expected because forage clipping was made only one time in January for the dual-purpose trial due to the dry winter months and February snowstorm. As a result, the effect of clipping was minimal on grain yields. Variety trial results, including height, rust rating, forage and grain yields, test weight, and protein test result for each trial site are available at Texas Rolling Plains Agronomy Website at https://agrilife.org/txrollingplainsagronomy/wheat-3/.
Picks and Watch List Varieties for 2021-2022 Growing Season in the Rolling Plains
The AgriLife Extension wheat Picks varieties were selected based on the Texas Rolling Plains Uniform Variety Trial (UVT) at Hardeman and Haskell County for grain-only and Foard, Wilbarger and Haskell County trials for dual-purpose use. Our ongoing Picks criteria include a minimum of three years of data in Texas A&M AgriLife Rolling Plains wheat variety trials across multiple locations. A “Pick” variety means this: given the data, these are the varieties we would choose to include and emphasize on our farm for wheat grain production. Picks are not necessarily the numerical top yielders as important disease resistance traits (leaf or stripe rust, wheat streak mosaic virus), insect tolerance (greenbugs, Russian wheat aphid), or standability can also be important varietal traits that enable a producer to better manage potential risk. We look for consistency of yields, e.g. the regularity with which an individual variety is in the top 25% of yield over all trials.
Texas Rolling Plains Picks List
Grain-only Pick
WB 4792, TAM 205, Bob Dole, and TAM 114
Grain-only Watch
WB 4595
Dual-purpose Pick
WB 4792, WB 4595, GreenHammer, and TAM 114
*Grain yield of each variety is listed in the tables.