Virginia On-Farm Wheat Test Plots 2007

Conducted and Summarized by: Keith Balderson, Extension Agent, Essex County, Paul Davis, Extension Agent, New Kent/Charles City Counties, David Moore, Extension Agent, Middlesex County, Sam Johnson, Extension Agent, Westmoreland County, Glenn Chappell, Extension Agent, Prince George County, Watson Lawrence, City of Chesapeake, Wes Alexander, Southampton County, Cyndi Estienne, Greensville County
Wade Thomason, Extension Grains Specialist, Virginia Tech

Publication Number 424-050, Posted September 2007

Table of Contents

Introduction

General Summary

Wheat Variety Plots

Stalk Management Plot

Wheat Seed Treatment Plots

Crop Protection Plots

Soil Fertility Plots and Tissue Sample Results

Planting Depth Observations

Introduction

The demonstration and research plot results discussed in this publication are a cooperative effort by eight Virginia Cooperative Extension agents, several Extension specialists from Virginia Tech, area producers, and agribusinesses. We are extremely proud to present this year’s on-farm wheat plot work to you. 2006-2007 brought several challenges to small-grain producers in eastern Virginia. Heavy rains in the fall and early winter caused drownedout spots in many fields. A late spring freeze from April 6 through 9 caused winter kill in many fields, and dry weather in May reduced yields on some sandy-textured fields. Yields varied considerably across the area, but dry harvest weather allowed for a timely harvested, high-quality small-grain crop. With wheat prices around $5.00 per bushel for 2008 and 2009, farmers are optimistic about producing the crop.

The field work and printing of this publication are supported by the Virginia Small Grains Check-Off Funds. The cooperators graciously acknowledge this support. Any small-grain producer who would like a copy of this report should contact his/her local Extension agent, who can request a copy from Keith Balderson in Essex County at 804/443-3551 or thbalder@vt.edu.

This is the fifteenth year of this multi-county project. Further work is planned for the upcoming growing season.

The authors wish to thank the many producers who participated in this project. Appreciation is extended to the seed, chemical, and fertilizer representatives who donated products and/or assisted with the field work.

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General Summary

1. VARIETY SELECTION: Variety selection remains one of the most important components of wheat production. In our variety plots, yields and test weight values varied considerably among varieties. The best source of information available for selecting small-grain varieties is Small Grains in 2007, Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 424-001.
   
   
2. STALK MANAGEMENT: As fuel prices remain high, producers are interested in reducing the number of trips across the field. Some producers are planting no-till wheat into “standing” stalks following corn harvest, while others are chopping stalks or running reduced-tillage equipment, such as the “Turbo-Till,” prior to planting. In a plot evaluating stalk shredding, there was no difference in yield between the shredded and unshredded plots with yields around 80 bushels per acre.
   
   
3. CROP PROTECTION PLOTS: In a plot evaluating insecticide and seed treatments for barley yellow dwarf virus control, the seed treatments (Gaucho, Cruiser, and an experimental treatment) and the fall insecticide treatment all decreased the number of virus hits compared to the check. In a plot evaluating an application of Osprey herbicide to control annual bluegrass, the Osprey provided good control and increased yield by about 19 bushels per acre (49 bushels vs. 68 bushels). In two plots evaluating foliar fungicide applications, the fungicides increased yields only slightly in a relatively dry year with relatively little disease pressure.
   
   
4. FERTILITY PLOTS: Proper timing and rates of nitrogen fertilizer are critical to producing high wheat yields and protecting water quality. There is some indication that nitrogen rates may be able to be reduced in long-term continuous no-tillage systems. Tests conducted on two plots provided some insight into this theory. See the individual plot results for more information. Sulfur deficiency was evident on sandy-textured soils where no sulfur was applied in the topdress nitrogen, and magnesium deficiency was also found in sandy-textured fields with a long history of lime-stabilized bio-solids use. See the article on plant tissue testing for more specific information.
   
   
5. PLANTING DEPTH:Proper planting depth remains an issue in no-tillage wheat, especially in fields with heavy corn residue. Observations were made in several fields to help illustrate this point. See the article on planting depth for more insight into this production challenge.

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Wheat Variety Plots

Westmoreland Wheat Variety Trial

Variety	Seed Treatment	% Moisture	Test Weight (lb)	Yield
Coker 9553	Dividend	12.5	57.7	60.20
3706	Raxil/Apron	11.6	56.8	79.30
SS 8302	Raxil/Thiram	12.3	56.6	67.04
Dominion	Raxil/Thiram	12.1	56.9	74.83
Pioneer 26R87	Dividend Extreme	12.2	58.9	62.59
Coker 9511	Dividend Extreme	12.4	58.9	62.59
Vigoro 9510	Dividend Extreme	10.7	55.3	61.41
Sisson	Dividend Extreme	11.7	56.4	68.48
Pioneer 26R31	Untreated	12.6	57	71.71
USG 3665	Dividend Extreme	11.9	55.1	69.51
SS 8309	Raxil/Thiram	12.5	54.7	63.70
Renwood 3260	Dividend Extreme	12.5	58.1	63.32
Featherstone 176	Raxil/Thiram	12.1	55.3	63.45
USG 3209	Dividend Extreme	12.8	57	60.24

Discussion: Renwood 3706 had the highest yield, but also had 10 percent to 15 percent lodging. These are strip plots. Therefore, growers should compare these numbers with other tests across the area before making variety decisions.

Middlesex Wheat Variety Plot 2006-2007

Variety	Treatment Code	Seed/lb	Test Weight (lb)	% Moisture	Yield @ 13.5%
Coker 9511	Dx2	12300	63	14.8	77.9
Check	RT	12800	61	14.8	85.3
Coker 9553	Dx2	11050	62	14.7	79.9
Check			60	14.8	84.3
SS 8302	RT	10860	62	14.7	87.0
Check			60	14.5	86.9
SS 8309	RT	12680	57	14.4	87.9
Check			61	14.4	80.4
Vigoro 9510	DX	12500	62	14.1	80.2
Check			60	14.2	85.9
Dominion	DX	11000	62	13.9	86.2
Check			61	14.3	85.5
Pioneer 26R31	U	11500	61	14.1	82.9
Check			61	14.2	84.6
Pioneer 26R87	DX	11000	64	14.0	73.8
Check			60	14.1	87.6
Sisson	DX	12140	63	14.0	83.5
Check			61	14.0	77.7
Featherstone 176	RT	11222	62	13.8	78.8
Check			61	13.9	82.1
USG 3209	DX	10400	60	13.7	84.1
Check			61	14.0	81.2
Renwood 3706	RA	12553	61	13.5	80.4
Check			XXXX not a complete check
Renwood 3260	DX	12180	62	13.5	77.7
Check			XXXX not a complete check
USG 3665	DX	14000	61	13.5	90.9
Check
Average Non Check			61.5		82.2
Treatment Code: Dx2 Dividend Extreme (4oz) DX Dividend Extreme (2oz) RT Raxil Thiram U Untreated RA Raxil Apron

Wheat Variety Heading Dates

Discussion: It’s always fun to do this plot. We even offered a prize to those attending the educational “walkthrough” for picking the highest producing variety. Congratulations to Chuck Hunt for picking USG 3665 as the winner with a suspected yield of 90.5 bushels. As you can see, USG 3665 did top the plot at 90.7 bushels. Great guess, Chuck!

The varieties were very close in yields. Test weights were good and most varieties yielded good-looking, clean wheat. There were some scabby heads that did not harvest well and partial heads ended up in the samples. Two varieties showing this in particular were USG 3209 and SS8309. Scab and barley yellow dwarf virus were evident prior to dry down and at harvest. Pinkish spikelets and glumes, signifying scab, were present in several varieties at harvest. Try to make planting decisions based on scab resistance and test weight, as well as yield.

Use this and other Virginia Tech variety information when making planting decisions for 2007-2008.

2007 Chesapeake Wheat Variety Comparisons

Variety	Seed Treatment*	% Moisture	Test Weight (lbs)	Yield (bu/ac)
McCormick	U	14.4	62	89.5
Vigoro 9510	DX	13.8	60	86.8
Southern States 560	RT	13.6	56	72.8
Dominion	RT	13.9	57	72.3
Vigoro McIntosh	DX	14.0	61	71.3
So. States MPV57	RT	13.8	57	69.8
Vigoro 9412	DX	14.1	58	69.2
Pioneer 26R31	U	13.9	58	66.7
Pioneer 26R15	U	13.9	58	65.2
Tribute	DX + R	14.4	62	60.0
*Seed Treatment Code: DX: Dividend Extreme R: Reldan RT: Raxil Thiram U: Untreated

Discussion: 2007 was a good year for wheat production. Test weights were good. Number 2 Soft Red Winter Wheat standards are 58 pounds. Wheat must be 56 pounds for sale at a discounted price. There were few pest problems. Cereal leaf beetles were not a significant pest this year. There were few problems with diseases, partly because it remained so dry in the spring. There was a spring infestation of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) that had less impact than a fall infestation. This disease is spread by aphids, if the virus is present in the aphid population that year. There is no preplant measure of risk for BYDV. The Tribute variety also was impacted by a small patch of soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SWMV). This virus is soil-borne, which may explain why it affected only a small area of the field on the end where the Tribute was. Typically, Tribute has been a top yielder for our area and this disease definitely affected its yield. McCormick had some lodging but still yielded well.

2007 Charles City Wheat Variety Strip Trial

	Cultivar	Yield(bu/ac)	% Moisture
1	Featherstone 176	equip. malfunction
2	SS MPV57	81.2	13.2
3	SS 8309	60.3	11.4
4	SS 8302	72.7	14.4
5	Renwood 3260	75.7	13.4
6	Renwood 3706	82.3	13.1
7	USG 3209	80.4	14.2
8	USG 3665	85.2	13.3
9	USG 3342	80.1	13.1
10	Sisson	89.0	13.2
11	Pioneer 26R31	88.4	13.3
12	Pioneer 26R15	104.2	13.3
13	Pioneer 26R87	74.1	10.7
14	Coker 9184	76.8	14.1
15	Corker 9553	77.2	13.6
16	Coker 9511	82.7	13.3
17	Tribute	69.4	14.4
18	Vigoro 9510	86.6	13.5
19	Dominion	85.3	13.0
	Averages	80.6	13.3

Discussion: Yields were good and seed quality excellent in this yield strip trial. Pioneer 26R15, Sisson, Pioneer 26R31, Vigoro 9510, USG 3665, and Dominion varieties were all well above the plot average of 80.6 bushels per acre.

Prince George/Dinwiddie Wheat Variety Trial

Treatment	Vigor (0-5)**	% Moisture	Test Weight (lb)	Yield (bu/ac@13.5))	% of Plot Avg
Sisson	2	11.4	57	59.4	94.52
USG 3342	3	10.7	58	70.1	111.52
USG 3209	4	11.9	58	68.9	109.63
USG 3665	3	10.7	55	69.1	109.96
Coker 9553	3	10.8	59	68.3	108.67
Coker 9511	3	11.8	60.5	67.8	107.82
Coker 9184	3	11.8	60	66.6	105.89
Featherstone 176	3	11.1	57	74.7	118.74
Pioneer 26R31	4	10.0	57.5	60.5	96.18
Pioneer 26R15	1	11.0	55	50.6	80.43
Pioneer 26R87	3	9.8	61.5	63.0	100.24
Renwood 3260	4	11.9	60	59.8	95.06
VCIA 3706	3	10.5	57	56.3	89.51
FFR 8302	3	10.5	57.5	59.8	95.08
FFR 8309	2	10.3	56.5	52.9	84.08
FFR MPV 57	3	11.5	57	55.1	87.70
Dominion	3	9.4	59	66.3	105.44
Tribute	3	9.9	61	62.5	99.45
Vigoro 9510	3	*	*	*	*
Plot Average:				62.9
*= missing data **Vigor – 0 = Poor and 5 = Good. Ratings were taken March 12, 2007, and are relative to the other varieties in the study. A vigor rating of 3 represents the overall average of the varieties in the plot.

Discussion:Grain planting was delayed because of wet conditions. Following the early moisture, the remaining season was dry through harvest. Lodging, disease, and insects were not noteworthy factors.

2007 On-Farm Wheat Variety Plot Yield Summary

A variety must be entered in at least three locations for an average to be reported. See the individual plot results in this publication for additional information. Some of the plots used check varieties. Yields of the checks are not reported here.

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Stalk Management Plot

Application	% Moisture	Test Weight	Yield @ 13.5%
Standing Stalks	15.6	60	77.1
Shredded Stalks	15.4	60	74.6
Standing Stalks	15.6	60	81.3
Shredded Stalks	15.5	60	82.5
Standing Stalks	15.5	60	80.3
Shredded Stalks	15.4	60	85.2
Average Standing			79.6
Average Shredded			80.8

Discussion:The objective of this test was to see if there are any significant differences in yield, TW, etc. of wheat planted into standing stalks versus shredded stalks. From this test, I would say that statistically, there were none.

Several producers have switched to this practice and are very satisfied with no yield “drag” while saving a trip across the field. There are, however, concerns with planting (good seed-to-soil contact) into these stalks and also a concern about the aesthetic appearance of the field when leaving the stalks standing. Planting on an angle will help decrease “stalk clogging” while planting into standing stalks.

Use this and other Virginia Tech replicated plot information when making planting decisions for 2007-2008.

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Weed Seed Treatment Plots

2007 New Kent Wheat Seed Treatments to Control Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus

#	Material	Rate/ac	Total Hits1	Total Area Infected (sq ft)	Test Weight (lb)	% Moisture	Bu/ac
1	Untreated	—	36.75 a	11.340 a	59.3	11.0	69.62
2	Untreated + Warrior	2.56 oz/ acre	5.50 cb	0.170 d	59.8	10.7	66.79
3	Gaucho 600 FS	0.79 oz/ cwt	21.00 b	0.927 cd	59.3	11.1	64.32
4	Cruiser 5FS	0.74 oz/ cwt	13.75 bc	0.825 cd	59.5	11.7	71.03
5	V10170	10 g ai/hkg	25.75 ab	1.695 b	59.3	11.2	67.00
6	V10170	30 g ai/hkg	15.00 bc	0.946 bc	60.0	11.2	66.47
7	V10170	50 g ai/hkg	6.50 c	0.345 cd	60.7	11.3	68.56
¹Means within a column followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different.

Discussion:Due to low BYDV pressure there were no significant yield differences in treatments. Even with low aphid pressure, the untreated seed had significantly more area infected with BYDV than all the seed treatments.

2007 Charles City Wheat Seed Treatment To Control Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus

#	Material	Rate/ac	Total Hits1	Total Area Infected (sq ft)	Test Weight (lb)	Bu/ac
1	Untreated	—	0.75 a	0.0164 a	59.63 c	106.01 ab
2	Gaucho 600 FS	0.79 oz/cwt	0.75 a	0.0164 a	59.83 a	106.50 ab
3	Untreated + Warrior	2.56 oz/A	0.00 a	0.0000 a	59.40 ab	101.00 b
9	Cruiser 5FS	0.74 oz/cwt	0.25 a	0.0055 a	59.75 ab	101.53 b
4	V10170	10 g ai/hkg	1.00 a	0.0286 a	59.83 a	108.95 ab
5	V10170	30 g ai/hkg	0.50 a	1.0109 a	59.03 bc	102.50 ab
6	V10170	50 g ai/hkg	1.25 a	0.0341 a	59.63 ab	110.15 a
¹Means within a column followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different

Discussion: This plot was accidentally treated with 2 ounces of Warrior in January, which gave great control of the aphids that transmit BYDV. The new numbered insecticide does show promise, in that it produced yields not significantly different from Gaucho and Cruiser.

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Crop Protection Plots

Evaluating Osprey on Winter Wheat

Plot Number	Harvest Weight	Test Weight	% Moisture	13.5 % Moisture (bu/ac)
101	542	59.0