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Proper selection of oat varieties requires consideration of the antici-pated growing conditions, the pests that might be encountered in a specific production situation, the purpose for growing the crop and its eventual us-age. Specific growing situations will dictate the priority and emphasis given to each trait included in the tables. Crown rust continues to be the prevalent disease of oat, stifling high yielding, high-quality oat production. Many oat varieties are moderately to very susceptible to crown rust (a rating of 4 or higher). Consequently, it was decided to alter the protocol this past season and treat all yield trials with a fungicide when the flag leaf was fully extended (Feekes 9) – the optimum time to control crown rust – as the goal of the trials is to measure yield

potential rather than susceptibility to crown rust.

Average yield across the five trial loca-tions (Lamberton, Morris, Crookston, Stephen and Roseau) was a 170 bu/acre. This is more than 50 bu/acre higher across locations compared to 2013 and can, in part, be attributed to control of crown rust. Deon, the latest University of Minnesota release, was the top-yielding variety across the state in both single- and three-year comparisons, followed by Newburg, the 2011 release from North Dakota State University Relative maturity, as measured by the number of days to heading, plant height, and resistance to lodging, have been converted to a 1-9 scale to allow for easier interpretation of the data.

Differences for all three characteristics are generally much less in the south-ern half of the state or when seeding is delayed. In the northern half of the state the gap in characteristics widens, as is also the case when seeding early. Presenting averages of the actual data therefore can be misleading. Earlier varieties tend to perform relatively better in the southern parts of the state, while later-maturing varieties usually have a yield advantage in the north. Varieties with lodging scores greater than 4 should be chosen with caution as lodging problems can take away yield and quality, and reduce harvest-ability. This factor is especially impor-tant if your soils are highly fertile. Groat percentage is an important consideration for grain production, perhaps equal to grain yield, whether the crop is intended for food or feed.

2014 Oat Field Crop Trials Results

Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences

Locations of2014 oat trials.

Disease reactions of oat varieties in Minnesota.

Crown Rust1 Smut1 BYDV1

Entry 2014 2014 2013

AAC Justice 9 — —Badger 8 1 5.5Colt 9 1 6Deon 6 1 4Esker 7 1 3Goliath 8 1 —Horsepower 9 4 2.5Jury 8 1 —Newburg 8 1 7Rockford 9 2 2.5Ron 6 1 —Saber 9 5 2.5Shelby 427 9 1 3.5Souris 8 1 3Tack 9 3 1.5

11 = most resistant and 9 = most susceptible.

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University of Minnesota 2014 Oat

It is defined as the percentage of germ, bran and endosperm in proportion to the whole seed on a weight basis.

In addition to groat percentage and test weight, the grain protein percentage is being reported on for the first time.

Disease ratings are based on inocu-lated screening nurseries for crown rust and smut on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus, and for barley yellow dwarf virus or red leaf of oats on the University of Illinois’ Champaign Urbana campus.

Consider most oat varieties to be moderately to very susceptible to

crown rust. Use of a fungicide at Feekes 9 is warranted if crown rust is present in the lower canopy at that time and the variety has a crown rust rating of 4 and higher. Expect some yield losses due to crown rust with the most susceptible cultivars even when a fungicide application is made at Feekes 9 if conditions for crown rust remain favorable during the grain fill period. Selecting moderately suscep-tible cultivars such as Deon and Esker is still prudent.

Treated seed should be used for smut-susceptible varieties. Varieties suscep-

Agronomic and quality characteristics of oat varieties in single-year (2014) and multiple-year (2012-2014) comparisons.

Year ofRelease

Seed Color

Maturity1 Plant Height2 Lodging3 Test Weight, lb/bu Groat (%) Grain Protein (%)

Entry Breeder 2014 3-Year 2014 3-Year 2014 3-Year 2014 3-Year 2-Year 2014

Badger U of Wisconsin 2010 Yellow 1 1 1 1 3 3 32.5 36.6 70.9 13.4Colt SDSU 2010 White 1 2 3 3 5 4 35.4 39.8 73.3 14.9Deon U of Minnesota 2014 Yellow 8 9 6 6 1 2 34.7 38.7 72.7 14Esker U of Wisconsin 2006 Yellow 2 3 3 3 1 2 32.2 36.4 72 14.3Goliath SDSU 2013 White 9 7 9 9 5 — 36.3 40.3 — 14.4Horsepower SDSU 2012 White 3 3 2 1 4 3 36.1 39.6 71.9 13.5Jury NDSU 2012 White 8 5 8 8 6 — 35.4 39.2 — 13.4Newburg NDSU 2011 White 8 5 8 7 5 4 34.6 38.7 72.7 12.8Rockford NDSU 2008 White 7 7 6 6 3 3 36.4 39.9 72.1 13.9Ron U of Wisconsin 2014 Yellow 6 — 5 — 2 — 34 — — 15Saber U of Illinois 2010 Yellow 2 2 2 2 1 2 35.2 38.9 73.6 14.4Shelby 427 SDSU 2011 White 2 2 6 5 2 2 36.3 40.3 72.7 14.4Souris NDSU 2008 White 6 5 5 3 5 3 35 38.7 72.3 13.7Tack U of Illinois 2006 White 3 3 3 2 2 2 35.3 39.5 72.9 14.4LSD (0.10) 0.9 0.9 1.8 0.6

11 = earliest and 9 = latest.21 = shortest and 9 = tallest.31 = least prone and 9 = most prone.

tible to barley yellow dwarf virus (a rating of 6 or higher) should be chosen carefully.

Descriptions of oat varieties covered by the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act include a PVP designation. When PVP is followed by the notation (94), seed of that variety may not be sold by a grower, not even to a relative or neighbor, without the express permis-sion of the variety’s developer/owner. If the PVP designation is followed by (pending), consider the variety as having PVP (94) protection. Using oats for cover crop does not exempt

Relative grain yield of oat varieties in Minnesota in single-year (2014) and multiple-year (2012-2014) comparisons.Lamberton Morris Crookston Stephen Roseau State

Entry 2014 3-Year 2014 3-Year 2014 3-Year 2014 3-Year 2014 3-Year 2014 3-Year

Badger 104 100 78 80 92 90 66 87 93 92 91 95Colt 88 87 63 91 56 67 69 79 79 78 66 85Deon 116 103 119 110 114 114 119 115 107 106 114 110Esker 115 106 101 104 96 106 99 101 93 91 99 107Goliath 102 — 90 — 108 — 104 — 100 — 103 —Horsepower 74 98 104 105 105 106 119 105 109 107 102 98Jury 100 — 96 — 109 — 111 — 104 — 105 —Newburg 100 106 108 115 111 108 104 108 112 113 110 105Rockford 77 89 111 105 100 101 90 104 92 102 97 88Ron 115 79 100 110 96 — 88 — 94 — 99 102Saber 96 109 111 103 91 96 97 104 96 84 96 103Shelby 427 90 110 103 93 91 91 94 91 93 94 93 97Souris 81 94 96 98 95 96 109 107 96 109 94 90Tack 80 92 84 89 85 91 85 88 99 91 87 90Mean (Bu/Acre) 149 123 158 144 178 128 96 183 191 174 170 125LSD (0.10) 17 14 20 12 14 9 11 10 14 10 11 7

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University of Minnesota 2014 Oatthe buyer from the legal obligation to purchase only certified or registered classes of seed.

Yields are reported as a percentage of the location mean, with the overall mean (bu/acre) listed below. One-year data are less reliable and should be interpreted with caution. In contrast, averages across multiple environ-ments, whether they are different years and/or locations, provide a more reliable estimate of mean performance and are more predictive of what you may expect from the variety the next growing season.

The least significant difference or LSD is a statistical method to determine whether the observed yield difference between any two varieties is due to true, genetic differences between the varieties or due to experimental error. If the difference in yield between two varieties equals or exceeds the LSD value, the higher-yielding one is in-

deed superior in yield. If the difference is less, the yield difference may have been due to chance rather than genetic differences, and we are unable to dif-ferentiate the two varieties.

The 10% unit indicates that, with 90% confidence, the observed difference is indeed a true difference in perfor-mance. Lowering this confidence level will allow more varieties to appear different from each other, but also in-creases the chances that false conclu-sions are drawn.

Project LeadersJochum Wiersma, Roger Caspers, Ruth Dill-Macky and Matt Green.

Test Plot ManagementRobert Bouvette, James Cameron, Amar Elakkad, Dave Grafstrom, Mark Hanson, Tom Hoverstad, George Nel-son, Steve Quiring and Donn Vellek-son.

OatPlanting Rate and Date

Bushel Weight, Pounds................32

Seeds/Pound..........................16,200

Planting Rate, Pounds/Acre.........80

Planting Rate, Seeds/Sq. Ft..........28

Planting Date...............Early Spring