The 2001 season marked the 17th season of the Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Extension Winter and Spring Small Grain Performance Trials. The trials, supported by the Idaho Wheat Commission and Idaho Barley Commission, enable the testing of public and private varieties and advanced lines under the irrigated and dryland conditions of the Treasure Valley.

Winter Trials

Four irrigated winter wheat trials were conducted during the 2001 season. Two of the trials were planted in early October or mid November at The Parma Research and Extension Center to evaluate variety performance under both early and late planting conditions.   The Weiser trial was planted November 1 and a Mtn Home trial was late planted on November 29.  

The early planted Parma site was the most productive, but protein values averaged less than 10% suggesting that the trial  may have been limited in yield due to inadequate available N.  Production at Weiser was limited by both the later planting,  poor stands due to limited seed bed preparation, and moisture stress which also reduced plant height..  Yields at Weiser may also have been limited by excessive N as suggested by the excessive protein values which averaged well over 12%.   Production for the late planted trial at Parma was reduced from the late planting and may also have been limited in N basd on the protein which averaged less than 10%.   The very late planted Mtn Home site was located in a field that was later involved in the power buyout and was never irrigated.

One dryland site was planted October 24 near Midvale.