Spring Wheat Field Crop Variety Trials

Spring wheat varieties were sown in trial plots at Becker, Crookston, Lamberton, Roseau, St. Paul, and Waseca and on-farm sites near Benson, Fergus Falls, Hallock, Le Center, Oklee, Perley, Stephen, and Strathcona. These plots are handled so that the factors affecting yield and other characteristics are as uniform as possible for all varieties at each location, but seed providers are allowed to choose a preferred seeding rate for each variety. The standard seeding rate is designed to achieve a desired stand of 1.3 million plants/acre, assuming a 10% stand loss and adjusting for the germination percentage and seed weight of each variety. These hard red spring wheat trials are not designed for crop (species) comparisons, because the various crops are grown on different fields or with different management. The data should only be used to compare varieties within a table. All locations are set up as randomized complete blocks with 3 replications. Spatial analysis is used to adjust plot yields for each location. Tested hard red spring wheat varieties are listed in alphabetical order in the tables.

Variety Selection Criteria

While grain yield is an important economic trait, return per acre is also affected by grain quality. Because Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), or scab, can reduce grain quality and yield dramatically, it is an important consideration. Disease ratings are on a 1-9 scale where 1 = most resistant and 9 = most susceptible. Rating differences of 2 or more should be considered significant.

The majority of varieties are resistant or moderately resistant to stripe rust and leaf rust, but a few are moderately susceptible. Stripe rust can be very damaging when temperatures remain unseasonably cool into early July. Carefully consider a variety’s rating for leaf and stripe rust and plan to use a fungicide if a variety is rated 5 or higher and disease levels warrant treatment. Varieties with ratings of 4 or better should not experience economic levels of damage in most years. Stem rust ratings are included in the disease tables because there are differences in variety reaction. Although the levels of this disease have been very low in production fields in recent years, even on susceptible varieties, CP3099A had significant damage due to stem rust at several locations in 2024.

Bacterial leaf streak was assessed at four locations in 2025, but the ratings of this disease on newer varieties may change by as much as one rating point as more data is collected. This disease cannot be controlled with fungicides. Selection of more resistant varieties is the only recommended practice at this time to reduce losses caused by this disease.

The “Other Leaf Diseases” rating represents a combined reaction to two different Septoria leaf blotches, tan spot, and powdery mildew. Although varieties may differ for their response to each of those diseases, the rating does not differentiate among them. Consequently, the rating should be used as a general indication and only for varietal selection in areas where these diseases have been a problem or if the previous crop was wheat or barley. Control of fungal leaf diseases with fungicides may be warranted, even for varieties with an above-average rating.

MN-Rothsay was the no. 1 variety grown in Minnesota in 2025, seeded on 28.3% of the 1.15 million acres.  The next most seeded varieties were WB9590 (19.4%), MN-Torgy (10.4%), SY Valda (6.8%), TGC-Zelda (4.6%) and WB9479 (4.4%)
Varieties tested for the first time in 2025 were AP Dagr, AP Iconic, CP3555, CP3678, LCS Rimfire, MS Nova, ND Horizon, PFS Muffins, and TCG-Arsenal. CP3530 was re-entered after not being entered in 2024. Enhance-SD was in the 2024 trial under its experimental number and results are reported for the first time this year. WestBred did not submit any HRSW varieties for testing, but WB9479 and WB9590 were both tested in 2025 because each occupied more than 5% of the state’s acreage in 2024. 

Since 2004 we have been conducting an “intensive” management trial in which fungicides are applied at the time of herbicide application (Feekes 5), flag leaf emergence (Feekes 9), and at the onset of flowering (Feekes 10.51). The additional performance evaluations were carried out adjacent to the conventional (no fungicides applied) trials, so results can be compared directly. The practice of three fungicide applications during the growing season is not recommended. This fungicide regime is implemented to measure the varieties’ performance when fungal diseases are controlled to the maximum extent possible. Decisions regarding fungicide applications should be based on the available decision support systems and used only if and when disease levels are forecasted to reach economically damaging levels.

Project Leaders

James Anderson, Jochum Wiersma, Ruth Dill-Macky, Pablo Olivera Firpo, and Linda Dykes

Test Plot Managers

Test plot establishment and management were supervised by Fernando Alberto, Matt Bickell, Danielle Fiebelkorn-Wrucke, Dave Grafstrom, Mike Leiseth, Rafael Moreira, Susan Reynolds, Nathan Stuart, Donn Vellekson, and Travis Vollmer.

• 2025
  • 2025 narrative
  • 2025 data tables
• 2024
  • 2024 narrative
  • 2024 data tables

The following documents were created before current policy requirements took effect, and therefore may not be accessible. To request this content in an accessible format, contact [email protected].

• 2023 (.pdf)
• 2022 (.pdf)
• 2021 (.pdf)
• 2020 (.pdf)
• 2019 (.pdf)
• 2018 (.pdf)
• 2017 (.pdf)
• 2016 (.pdf)
• 2015 (.pdf)
• 2014 (.pdf)
• 2013 (.pdf)
• 2012 (.pdf)
• 2011 (.pdf)
• 2010 (.pdf)
• 2009 (.pdf)
• 2008 (.pdf)
• 2007 (.pdf)
• 2006 (.pdf)
• 2005 (.pdf)
• 2004 (.pdf)
• 2003 (.pdf)
• 2002 (.pdf)
• 2001 (.pdf)
• 2000 (.pdf)
• 1999 (.pdf)
• 1998 (.pdf)
• 1997 (.pdf)
• 1996 (.pdf)

• How to interpret the data
• Seed laws and IP
• Small grains resources from UMN Extension
• Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MNCIA)
• MN-Rothsay wheat
• MN-Torgy wheat