1.       2005 Soft Winter Wheat data from the WSU Variety Testing nursery at the Reardan, WA location (approx. 6 miles west of Reardan, WA, H. Johnson farm) averaged 106.6 bu/ac. The 2005 Soft White Winter wheat average yields very similar to 3-year average yields (108.7 bu/ac) at this location.

2.       STRIPE RUST infections were present in this nursery, however, high-temperature, adult plant resistance reactions prevented spread of stripe rust in most varieties. Rely, soft white club, had noticeably high levels of stripe rust on a 29 June 2005 evaluation and was also a variety with one of the lowest yields.    

3.       HEADING DATES averaged slightly earlier (2-3 days) than in 2004.

4.       Yields for over 60% of the varieties were closely grouped with limited statistical significant difference between them.  It is interesting to note that five of the top ten highest yielding varieties (WA7973, ID620, Eltan, WA7972 and Rjames) have Eltan in their pedigree.  Possibly the spring growing season (dry in Mar/Apr; wet in May) favored variety-types such as Eltan that is slower to take off in the spring and later in maturity – they may have been able to idle along during the drier periods and take better advantage of the growing conditions.  In addition, this was also observed in evaluations of early spring regrowth.  In general, varieties that showed the highest levels of vigorous, early spring regrowth (WB528, OR9801757, Lewjain, Stephens and Mohler) exhibited some of the lower yield values.  This was not always the case; however, there was a strong trend observed at the Reardan location. 

5.       Historically, it is hard to beat Eltan at this location. Varietal YIELD RANKING comparisons should lean heavily to using the 3-rear and 5-year historical data information.