One of our long-term projects is looking at the effects of herbicides on one oat variety. This is done in cooperation with the extension weeds project. There are 20-24 herbicide treatments each year. When averaged over the past three years, the 2,4-D ester treatments were the most detrimental. The 2,4-D ester at 1 pint/A and 1/4 pt Banvel combined with 1/2 pint/A of 2,4-D ester both caused 35% yield reduction.

Dawn Gustafson (PhD) is pyramiding crown rust genes to study their effect. Most of the genes being pyramided are no longer very effectively individually. This is a joint study with Yue Jin.

Mei Shen (MS) is looking at the inheritance of glume length. She also hopes to determine if there are relationships between glume size and grain traits.

Austin Magnuson (MS) is looking at phosphorous fertilizer applied to oats in no-till cropping. He will be applying P at different rates with two methods of application (broadcast or with seed). Preliminary data indicate perhaps lower rates of P application are adequate in no-till systems.

RISER was released this spring as a new cultivar. It was tested as SD 92125. It is a very early, short cultivar that has yellow seed. Riser is from a Settler/IA 681 cross. For the past five years it has had excellent field resistance to crown rust. Resistance to loose smut is very good. Riser is rated susceptible to moderately susceptible to BYDV. Groat protein and oil percentages are higher than other early varieties.