COMMENTS ON GROWING CONDITIONS
                                                                        2005 UMOPN
LACOMBE, ALBERTA – n/a
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Crop Rotation -1st previous was clover
                            -2nd previous was beans
Soil Type - uniform clay / loam 
Planting date was April 18th.  Right after planting we had 2-2.5 weeks of cold dry weather
(well below normal).  This delayed emergence.
The yield trials were sprayed with Buctril M at the four-leaf stage. Weeds present at that time 
were mainly volunteer clover from last year as well as a few other broad leafs such as lamb's 
quarters and sow thistle, which we did not kill as well as we hoped in some areas.
The remainder of the growing season was hot and humid with just enough rain.  Some late 
season storms accounted for some of the lodging.
Diseases - Septoria hit us harder and earlier than normal (by that I mean we don't usually have 
enough to rate, but we rated it this year, at least the plots with problems.  Rust on the other hand 
came later, shortly after heading, but I'm not too sure if it affected yields (we did get a good 
rating).
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
The nursery wasn't harvested due to extremely wet conditions. Unfortunately the Glenlea oat 
disease nursery was flooded out early this spring.  As well, the Glenlea yield trial was lost in the 
early summer due to excessive rain.
AMES, IA
The nurseries were planted early because of a mild and dry winter.  Warm weather continued 
during the growing season along with adequate moisture resulting in excellent yields and test 
weights.  Disease was not a problem in 2005. 
ABERDEEN, ID – n/a
URBANA, IL
Above average temperatures with below normal soil moisture.  Heat and drought during grain fill 
reduced yields and test weights.  Very little disease in yield plots.
W. LAFAYETTE, IN
We were able to seed very early, oats emerged uniformly and the growing conditions were 
excellent (cool and ample moisture) through 20 June. The cool nights likely resulted in the oats 
being shorter than normal, and there was essentially no lodging, but the oats tillered well
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with large panicles--pointing to a record yield. Then temperatures became very warm and no rain 
until after harvest on July 15, with significant soil moisture stress after July 1. Grain fill was 
better than expected, although test weights were reduced.
EAST LANSING, MI – n/a
MORRIS, MN
Season began wetter and warmer than normal, with some delay in field planting.  May was 
cooler and wetter than normal. Early in June there was a heavy rain causing standing water in the 
plot area.  Soil moisture continued in excess for the rest of the season, but elevating temperatures 
prevented a major crown rust epidemic.
 
ROSEMOUNT, MN
Season started warmer but with normal moisture, with some delay in field planting.  Plot 
planting date was average (mid-April).   Weather was very favorable for both plant and crown 
rust development until late into June.  Temperatures were below normal in mid-May, but soil 
moisture was adequate.  Beginning in early July, temperatures warmed considerably, slowing 
rust development, speeding crop development, and interfering with normal grain fill. Season 
ended with major crown rust epidemic and poor graining-filling conditions.
FARGO, ND
The Fargo nursery was planted into cold soil with adequate moisture.  Emergence was uniform 
and adequate to excess soil moisture was available through most of the season.  The air 
temperature fell to 25o F April 22 and development of plants was delayed. Warm temperatures 
prevailed during grain fill, but adequate soil moisture prevented excessive plant stress.  Crown 
rust developed late in the season and did not appear to affect any but the most susceptible 
genotypes.
CARRINGTON, ND –n/a
MINOT, ND
Conditions were relatively cool and dry during the early part of the growing season.  Rain 
occurred at an opportune time to allow good grain filling.  Crown rust developed late in the 
season and did not seem to affect performance of lines.  Thunderstorms caused severe lodging 
prior to grain fill in some plots. 
ITHACA, NY
Timely planting was important for spring grains.  Temperatures were above normal except for 
May.  Precipitation was erratic with excessive rainfall in April and June and drought conditions 
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in May and July.  However, over the growing season, the mean temperature was only 0.5 degrees 
F above normal and precipitation was 0.67 inches below normal.
BROOKINGS, SD
At the Brookings location, soil moisture conditions were adequate at planting and throughout the 
growing season.  Temperatures were extremely cool early; however, as the growing season 
progressed growing degree units exceeded the long term average.  Crown rust infections caused 
significant yield losses for moderately susceptible and susceptible varieties and lines.  The 
growing season tended to favor later maturing varieties and lines.
WATERTOWN, SD
At the Watertown location, soil moisture was excessive at planting; however, as the growing 
season progressed soil moisture conditions deteriorated to dry. Temperatures were extremely 
cool early; however, as the growing season progressed growing degree units exceeded the long 
term average.  Crown rust infections caused significant yield losses for moderately susceptible 
and susceptible varieties and lines.  Lodging was observed early in the growing season and 
increased as the season progressed.  Severity depended on landscape.
MADISON, WI
Planting was done at normal time into an excellent seedbed. Decent rainfall and cooler 
temperatures during the early growing season led to good germination, even stands, and much 
tillering. Then it turned very hot and dry with almost no additional rainfall recorded through 
harvest, except for severe storms on July 20th and 21st that flattened the nursery.  Even so, yields 
were good and test weights were acceptable. Again, for the third year in a row, almost no crown 
rust was observed, and levels of stem rust and BYDV were very light and widely scattered in the 
nursery.
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