Published: July 28, 2007 11:58 pm         

Wheat variety tests released

Which variety are you going to plant this year? The short answer may be the ones I can find or have on hand.

Finding good quality seed to plant for the 2008 crop is going to be a struggle in this immediate area. The Oklahoma State University Wheat Team recently released the results of the 2006-07 OSU variety tests. You may access a copy of the results on the Web by going to http://www.wheat.okstate.edu/vtr/index.htm or by calling your OSU County Extension ag educator for a copy of the report.

Like much of Oklahoma’s wheat harvest, so went the variety trials. Six locations (Haskell, Lamont, Lahoma, Homestead, Apache and Kildare) did not get harvested due to the extreme weather conditions posed by the tropical June weather and/or the late hard freeze in April. Still, data on several of our varieties did get a test, and that information can be viewed by you.

In the publication, you can see varieties that ranged in yields from nine bushels to 98 bushels. The bright spot in the state was the Panhandle area, with excellent production on most varieties grown. It is likely if you can’t find wheat for seed here, west of Woodward might be a good place to start. However, don’t select a variety without consulting your variety comparison chart in the report.

OK Bullet, Overley, Endurance, Deliver, Duster, Fuller, Shocker and Santa Fe are a few of the varieties for this area that have a good disease package and can do well in our climate and soil conditions in north central Oklahoma. Some are better for dual purpose than others in this group, so choose your variety carefully. There will be an 8 a.m. wheat meeting at the Youth Building on the Garfield County Fairgrounds on Aug. 24 at which Roger Gribble will discuss the varieties further.

Some of you may wonder about your saved wheat and the quality it may have for producing a wheat crop. OSU can test your wheat for a fee of $15 at the OCIA, (405) 744-7108, or you can do it yourself, as well. If you choose to test germination of your wheat you will need to freeze your wheat sample for one week. After this has been done, wet a paper towel and put 50 wheat seeds on it. Then, place another damp towel on top of the seed and roll the towels up together placing them in a cup with just a small amount of water then place it in the refrigerator for one week. At the end of that week unroll the towels, count the number of germinated seeds, multiply by two and you have your percent germination.

You also will want to be aware that test weights will determine the vigor of your seed. In general, OSU researchers have stated seed wheat with test weights below 56 pounds tends to have less vigor and energy to emerge, and produces less forage for grazing.

Be aware of high-temperature germination sensitivity problems as well with certain varieties like Overley, Cutter, 2174, Ok 102 and Shocker to name a few. Delayed planting (Oct. 1 or after) will encourage success with these varieties.

The bottom line is to know where your seed stands on quality. Lower-quality, lower-germ wheat seed will require you to up your seeding rates as you plant the 2008 crop.

Please contact your county OSU Extension office or the Garfield County OSU Extension office at 237-1228 or online at http://countyext.okstate.edu/garfield/index.htm for more information.



Cardwell is Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service ag educator in Garfield County.