1999 Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Tests McKendry, Sweets, Wright, Tague, Salzman, Mattas Introduction ------------ The objective of the Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Tests is to provide wheat growers in Missouri with a reliable, unbiased, up-to-date source of information that will permit valid comparisons among improved wheat varieties. This information should help Missouri wheat growers select varieties best suited to their particular area and growing conditions. This report summarizes soft red winter wheat and hard red winter wheat variety trials conducted throughout Missouri during the 1998-99 cropping season. Locations --------- The soft red winter wheats were planted at seven Missouri locations (Figure 1) including Portageville and Charleston in the southeastern region, Mt. Vernon and Lamar in the southwestern region and Columbia, Novelty and Trenton in the northern region of the state. Separate studies comparing hard red winter wheat entries were planted at Columbia, Mt. Vernon and Trenton. Entries and Seed Sources ------------------------ Names of commercially available entries evaluated in 1999 and their seed sources are given in Table 1. Sixty-four soft red and 7 hard red winter wheats were tested. The soft red winter wheats submitted for testing were comprised of 7 public varieties, 7 public experimental entries and 50 proprietary varieties. The hard red winter wheats were comprised of 4 public varieties including ‘Heyne', a hard white wheat, 2 public experimental entries and 1 proprietary variety. Public varieties adapted to Missouri growing conditions or recommended by the state of origin were entered in the 1998-99 variety test under the sponsorship of the Missouri Seed Improvement Association. Seed lots of named public varieties were acquired from the foundation seed organization of the originating state or from the University of Missouri Foundation Seed Organization. Numbered entries preceded by a state designation (e.g. MO94-317, OH 552) were provided by the foundation seed organization or the wheat breeder of the originating state, and are experimental lines not yet available for commercial production. Proprietary entries were submitted for testing on a fee basis by the developing company or sponsor. Condition of all seed lots (vigor, viability, seed treatment, etc.) was the responsibility of the company or organization submitting the entry for testing. Electronic Accessibility of Data -------------------------------- Results of the 1999 Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Tests are now available in two electronic forms. The winter wheat variety test data can be accessed on the Missouri Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board (AgEBB) supported by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The telephone number for the AgEBB is (573) 882-8289. Baud rates up to 14,400 bps are presently supported. Select the "Crop Performance Testing" option from the main AgEBB menu. Call (573) 882-4827 to contact the AgEBB staff concerning questions or problems. The 1999 Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Test results are also available on the world wide web. Internet users may access the results of these tests under Crop Performance Testing at: http://www.agebb.missouri.edu. Acknowledgments --------------- Special Report Number 526 is a contribution of the Department of Agronomy, University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. In addition to fees provided by the companies submitting varieties for evaluation, the Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Testing Program is partially funded by Missouri wheat farmers and businessmen through grants from the Missouri Seed Improvement Association and the University of Missouri Foundation Seed Organization. Costs of the testing program not covered from these funding sources are absorbed by the Small Grains Breeding Program at the University of Missouri. Special recognition goes to the following individuals who provided their time, land and additional resources in support of this program. Their many contributions are invaluable to the success of this effort: Mr. Peter Brewer, Farmer Cooperator Trenton, Missouri Mr. Smith Deline, Farmer Cooperator Charleston, Missouri Mr. Jake Fisher, Superintendent Delta Research and Extension Center Portageville, Missouri Dr. Richard Crawford, Superintendent Southwest Research and Extension Center Mt. Vernon, Missouri Mr. John Poehlmann, Superintendent Bradford Agricultural Research Center Columbia, Missouri Mr. David Sheats, Farmer Cooperator Lamar, Missouri Mr. Randall Smoot, Superintendent Greenley Agricultural Research Center Novelty, Missouri In addition, the authors would like to extend special thanks to Mr. Hubert Hamer, Director, and Mr. Marlowe Schlegel, Assistant Director, Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service, for supplying Missouri wheat production statistics and for their assistance with the direct mailing of this publication to Missouri wheat farmers. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Harry Minor Associate Professor and State Extension Agronomist - Small Grains for his help with field days conducted in association with the Winter Wheat Performance Tests in 1999. Finally, we would like to thank Carol Smith, Senior Secretary, for her assistance with proofing data in the final draft of this publication and the following students for their contribution to this report: Andrew T. Claywell, David C. Durtschi, Camissa A. Jarboe and Corey L. Smith. Without the invaluable help of these people, the timely publication of this report would not have been possible.