b'AGRONOMY MATTERSDecoding Cereal Lodging RatingsIF THE TOPIC OFlodging makes you recall torturousTableConversion of small plot lodging ratingsharvests and mats of straw that make direct seeding theinto categorical lodging ratings reported in thesubsequent crop unbearable, you need to rememberAlberta Seed Guide.that lodging is a critical trait to assess when selecting aWeightedCategorical new variety. If drought is common and lodging is rare,Site-yearsAverageLodging Rating lodging ratings may be less relevant. of LodgingLodgingassigned to Wheat and barley variety tables in your seed guideVariety Data Rating* Varietyreport lodging resistance on a categorical basis. A P ratingVariety with denotes poor lodging resistance, F is fair, G is good, andknown VG25 58% Very GoodSheriVG is very good. However, small plot trials rate lodginglodging ratingStrydhorst,on a one to nine scale (one equalling erect, nine equallingNew Variety A 6 62% Very Goodprofessionalflat). Its helpful to understand how lodging ratingsVariety with agronomist are translated from small plot data into the categoricalknown G lodging20 75% Goodwith Sheris Agratings reported in the Alberta Seed Guide (ASG) tables.ratingConsulting Inc. There has rarely been an E, or excellent, lodging rating assigned to a variety. Breeding for improvements inNew Variety B 6 82% Goodlodging resistance is still a top priority.Variety with Lodging data is only collected at regional variety trialknown F lodging23 86% Fair(RVT) sites with lodging present. These sites provideratinglodging data to the RVT historical database. On a typicalNew Variety C 12 90% Fairyear, there are 15 Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS)* Due to the different number of site years for each variety, a weighted sites, but between 2020 and 2022, there was onlyaverage is used. Small plot ratings which are collected on a one to differential lodging at nine of the 45 sites. With only 20nine scale are converted to a per cent of the check. A high per cent per cent of test sites providing lodging data, this makesrating has poor standability compared with a lower per cent rating.lodging one of the most challenging traits to accurately describe in provincial seed guides.Once sites with differential lodging are identified,Lodging ratings are vetted by the nearly 90 members of data is quality checked by experts in the crop type, withthe Alberta Regional Variety Advisory Committee. These ratings adjusted relative to the check variety, resultingunbiased ratings are reassessed annually and adjusted, if in standability as a per cent of the check. Calculationsneeded, as more lodging data is added. account for the number of site years of lodging data.When selecting the right cereal variety for your farm, Based on these per cent lodging ratings, upper and lowerits critical to look beyond yield performance. In drier boundaries are set for the VG, G, F and P lodging ratingregions of the province, varieties with a F or G lodging categories. The upper and lower limits of these categoriesrating will be more than adequate. However, in highly are set based on varieties that consistently stand, suchproductive areas, with high rainfall or irrigation, growers as AAC Viewfield, or more often lodge, such as CDCshould put significant thought into lodging ratings. In Go. As with all categorical data, not all varieties within athese areas, a variety with a VG lodging rating will be one category are exactly equal. Within the G rating categoryof the most important considerations when selecting the there are some varieties that are slightly stronger andright variety for your farm. Although there are now more some that are slightly weaker. Table one describes howagronomic options to manage lodging, the best and most small plot data is translated into categorical lodgingconsistent management tool is the appropriate selection of ratings. better genetics.50seed.ab.ca'