2021-2022 Cropping Season in Review
The wheat season was brutal to wheat growers in the Texas Rolling Plains. Depending on the planting timing, many fields received very little rainfall during the growing season until May 2022. The yield potential was set for wheat by the time we received the first significant rainfall for the season. Forage production was drastically reduced or completely lost in the small grain pastures, while many dryland wheat fields were abandoned due to the severe drought condition. Increased incidents of spider mites were reported as the spider mites thrive in the hot and dry weather. There were reports of white heads in wheat, which resembled freeze injury. However, it was likely caused by the drought stress rather than the freeze injury. Based on the conversation I had with wheat producers in the Texas Rolling Plains, 2021/2022 wheat season was equal to or worth than the 2011 drought.
Dryland Uniform Variety Trial (UVT) at Hardeman and Haskell County
Average grain yields and test weight were 21.4 bu/ac and 58.9 lb/bu for Hardeman Co, while the UVT in Haskell County was abandoned due to the severe drought condition. Variety trial results, including height, rust rating, yields and test weight, 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
Dual-purpose variety trials were planted in Wilbarger, Foard, and Haskell County on 10/4, 10/6, and 12/1/2021, respectively. However, all three trials were not harvested for grain yields due to the severe drought conditions. Forage was clipped once in Wilbarger County trial on 1/14/2022. The plots had never recovered from the clippings due to the lack of moisture. Average forage yield was 2,388 lb/ac, where the highest yields were obtained from TAM 304 (3,320 lb/ac), Green Hammer (3,117 lb/ac), and Bob Dole (3,040 lb/ac). Dual-purpose variety trial results are available at Texas Rolling Plains Agronomy Website at https://agrilife.org/txrollingplainsagronomy/wheat-3/.
Picks and Watch List Varieties for 2022-2023 Growing Season in the Rolling Plains
The AgriLife Extension wheat Picks varieties were selected based on the Texas Rolling Plains Uniform Variety Trial (UVT) for grain-only and dual-purpose variety 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 for 2022-2023 season
Grain-only Pick
WB 4792
- 3-yr average 43.3/39.2 bu ac
- 2022 average 24.3/21.4 bu ac
TAM 205
- 3-yr average 41.5/39.2 bu ac
- 2022 average 21.0/21.4 bu ac
TAM 115 (New!)
- 3-yr average 40.6/39.2 bu ac
- 2022 average 24.6/21.4 bu ac
WB 4595 (New!)
- 3-yr average 40.3/39.2 bu ac
- 2022 average 20.6/21.4 bu ac
Bob Dole
- 3-yr average 39.2/39.2 bu ac
- 2022 average 20.7/21.4 bu ac
Note: TAM 114 was removed from the Picks’ list for 2022-2023 season as recent two- and three-years average yield dropped to below trial averages.
Dual-purpose Pick
WB 4792
- 3-yr average forage dry matter (DM): 2% greater than the trial average
- 3-yr average grain yield: 22% greater than the trial average
WB 4595
- 3-yr average forage dry matter (DM): 6% greater than the trial average
- 3-yr average grain yield: 30% greater than the trial average
GreenHammer
- 3-yr average forage dry matter (DM): 25% greater than the trial average
- 3-yr average grain yield: 3% greater than the trial average
TAM 114
- 3-yr average forage dry matter (DM): Equal to the trial average
- 3-yr average grain yield: 2% less than the trial average
Emi Kimura, Extension Agronomist and State Extension Peanut Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Vernon, TX