Annual Lind Field Day provides insight on success of winter peas, wheat varieties for area farmers

The Lind Dryland Research Station hosted a large crowd for the annual Lind Field Day on June 16, which highlighted several potential options for area farmers.

Along with the updates on spring and winter wheat breeding, attendees also learned about the benefits of winter peas and winter triticale.

Stephen Guy and Rebecca McGee provided information to farmers about the success of winter peas as an alternative crop in the dryland area. Guy explained spring peas are not well adapted to the area, but winter peas have recorded good emergence and have shown a 20-40 percent yield response for crops planted after a broad leaf plant.

Guy said the winter peas have a higher emergence rate than winter wheat, as the pea plant is able to push through a crust. He continued peas are good for cycling nitrogen and keeping water in the soil.

Another benefit farmers could see with winter peas is that the plant leaves a decent amount of residue. Guy explained there are a lot of compelling reasons to have peas, including the production is economical.

One of the most important factors with winter peas is water, Guy said. Winter peas do not have deep root depth and research has shown after peas have been planted in a field, there is two inches more water left behind than if winter wheat had been planted, Guy stated.

McGee explained last year the variety trial at the local station allowed for researchers to gain a better understanding for the success of winter peas. The main variety studied is Windham, but 16 entries were planted at the site.

The plants recorded a large range of maturity, and the peas showed good tolerance throughout the winter, McGee said. She continued to explain winter peas have the ability to do well with low soil moisture, and also have a good resistance to heat.

The main use for winter peas is for forage, and McGee explained the need to have a food quality winter pea for farmers to profit from the crop.

She continued on to say until 2009, only autumn planted peas could be sold as food quality peas.

McGee said they are planning to release three varieties in the near future, with two of the varieties being categorized as food quality. She explained in this area, the majority of farmers would be planting the crop for seed production.

Along with the benefits of planting winter peas, McGee reiterated peas also make an excellent cover crop.

Guy explained the trial plants onsite had been planted two weeks a part beginning in September. All emerged well, but Guy said the deeper planted peas proved to be the best.

He advised farmers to plant early and plant the seeds as deep as possible.

Peas are also a hearty plant, Guy explained, and they have the potential to “re-sprout and re-grow”.

Also highlighted during the farm tour was Bill Schillinger’s presentation on winter triticale agronomy and varieties. Schillinger said winter triticale in the trials and in the local area has been successful with both early and late plantings, and it is a heavier grain compared to the wheat variety Otto.

Schillinger explained triticale produces more residue than wheat, but the emergence is not as high.

The amount of water remaining in the soil after a planting is comparable to wheat, but so far, there has not been stripe rust issues in the triticale trial variety.

During the variety trials, Schillinger explained they planted triticale and Otto at the same time for a comparison. In the August plantings, Schillinger said there did not appear to be a big difference between the two crops.

Schillinger emphasized the importance of not giving up on triticale. In the October planting, Schillinger explained the crop did not appear to be as successful as Otto initially, but late triticale always comes back.

The standard triticale used in the area is TriMark 099, Schillinger said. He also discussed four additional varieties at the test plots, and explained every late triticale variety planted did better than late-planted Otto.

Schillinger informed the attendees that private crop insurance is currently available for triticale. He announced federal crop insurance for triticale will be available in 2018.

After triticale is planted in a field, Schillinger said both wheat and triticale would be successful afterwards. He added winter triticale does have a slightly larger water storage level than wheat, which can be another potential benefit to farmers.

During the tour, attendees also heard about winter wheat breeding, Russian thistle research, spring wheat breeding and REACCH (Regional Approaches to Climate Change).