COMMENTS ON THE GROWING SEASON

2006 UEOPN

AMES, IA

A mild winter was followed by a cool and wet spring in 2006. The nurseries were planted slightly later than average. Warm dry weather during May and June produced yields that were lower than in 2005. Disease was not a major problem this year.

ABERDEEN, ID

Aberdeen had a normal temperature regime during the growing season.  Precipitation was above normal for the first part of the season and near to slightly above normal for the remainder of the season.  The harvest period was dry and grain quality high.  We again had infestations of Cereal Leaf Beetle throughout the plots, but below threshold values.

URBANA, IL

Very severe BYDV in these plots.  BYDV significantly reduced yields.  Fertilizer:80 lbs N/A.  Phosphorous and potassium ok by soil test.  Herbicide: Buctril at 1 pint/A.

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN

Soil conditions were excellent and seeding date was timely on March 20.  Growing conditions were excellent for oats throughout the growing season resulting in good test weight and high yields.  Natural infection of yellow dwarf virus occerred later than normal and symptom development was negligible.  Natural crown rust infection was absent.  Harvest was timely and weather conditions were favorable for harvest.

EAST LANSING, MI

ROSEMOUNT & WASECA, MN

The year started with a mild winter following a dry last 1/3 of 2005 and thus the entire state was quite dry until at least into March.  Early in spring we had good rains so that at many locations planting was delayed, but did happen into good soil moisture.  Emergence was good and development very good until early in June when it became quite hot and very dry.  Some areas received less than 1/2 inch of rain for all of June and July combined.  Early in May buckthorn bushes everywhere were heavily infected with crown rust.  However, with the start of the heat and no rain in June, very little crown rust developed on the oats in most locations.  Yields and quality were reduced from that in non-rusted fields in 2005, but generally producers were satisfied, given the somewhat unfavorable oat growing weather conditions.  There was relatively little lodging.

MADISON, WI

Planting was done on 4-15-06 into an excellent seedbed. Decent rainfall and cooler temperatures during the early growing season led to good germination and even stands. Weather pattern for most of the summer was alternating cloudy and rain for 2-3 days, then sunny for 2-3 days. Very few periods of continuous good weather occurred. Severe storms on July 20th flattened the nursery. Levels of crown rust, stem rust and BYDV were moderate to high compared with the previous three years and occurred later than normal. Even so, yields and test weights were good.