(By Dipak Santra, UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture)

SCOTTSBLUFF -- The Winter Pea variety trials were planted in the fall of 2024 with 22 varieties at two locations in Sidney and Grant, Neb.

The varieties included eight from ProGene Plant Research, 10 from Montana State University, five from USDA-ARS the Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research, and one from Valesco Genetics. The varieties from USDA-ARS and MT are new in 2025.

Cheyenne County - University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) High Plains Ag. Lab, near Sidney, peas were planted on Sep.19, 2024. 

This year's winter pea trial at Cheyenne County was fair. The trial was planted on tilled ground under a linear irrigation system*. The field was pre-irrigated before planting. The stand was limited before winter, although planted on time. However, there was a very good stand, with an average of 67 percent; range 90-33 percent, in late April. Significant winter kill was observed in a few specific varieties. *Cheyenne Co. trial is planted under rescue irrigation because the past several trials failed when planted under dryland.

  • Seed Yield: Trial average was 18 bu/acre (ranged 6 bu/acre to 25 bu/acre). The top seven yielding varieties are: PS11300240W of USDA-ARS (25 bu/acre), MTP 190820 and MTP 191029 of MSU (both 24 bu/acre), MTP 190887 of MSU and Pro 144-7211 of ProGene(both 22 bu/acre), Blaze of ProgGene and Winterberry of Valesco (both 21 bu/acre).
  • Average test weight was 52 lbs/bu (ranging from 32 lbs/bu to 60 lbs/bu).
  • Seed protein was 28 percent (ranging from 27 to 29 percent).
  • The average weight of 1000 seeds weight was 137g (ranging from 111g to 268g).
  • Maturity: Average date of 50 percent flowering was June 6 (June 22 to June 9).

Perkins County - UNL Stump Wheat Research Center, near Grant, Neb. Failed due to weather, no visible stand in the fall due to too dry soil.

Spring Pea variety trials were planted in Spring 2025 with 19 varieties (Meridian Seeds - two, ProGene - five, Puris (GTPC) - four, and Valesco Genetics - eight. Overall, this year’s spring pea variety testing result was excellent compared to the last 2-3 years’ extremely poor yield due to drought and high temperature.

This year’s weather was ideal, with ample rainfall and mild temperatures throughout the growing season. Seed yield was significantly higher than the long-term average. Flowering/maturity was approximately 7-10 days later than the long-term average. * New varieties in 2025 are Varieties from Puris and 25-24 from Valesco.

Perkins County - UNL-Stump Wheat Research Center 

This year's spring pea trial at Perkins County was good. The trial was planted about a week later than the normal target planting time. The stand was excellent. No disease or insects were observed.

  • The top seven yielding varieties are: GTPC005 of Puris (46 bu/acre), GTPC007 of Puris (43 bu/acre), 25-84 of Valesco (42 bu/acre), AAC Julius of Valesco (41 bu/acre), GTPC004 of Puris (40 bu/acre), AAC IronHorse (previously tested as 5206) and AAC Chrome of Valesco (both 39 bu/acre).
  • Average test weight was 56 lbs/bu (ranging from 53 lbs/bu to 60 lbs/bu).
  • Seed protein was 27 percent (ranging from 24 to 30 percent).
  • Maturity: Average date of 50 percent flowering was June 10 (June 6 to June 13).
  • The average weight of 1000 seeds weight was 185g (ranging from 1149g to 255g).

Cheyenne County - UNL-High Plains Ag. Lab 

This year's spring pea trial at Cheyenne County was very bad because a hailstorm before harvest caused major yield loss. The trial was still harvested since it was not 100 percent lost. Therefore, the yield was significantly lower than the average in the past. The result should be considered with extreme caution since the yield variability was very significant due to random hail damage.  

  • Seed Yield: Trial average was seven bu/acre (ranging from four bu/acre to 11 bu/acre). The top seven yielding varieties are: AAC IronHorse, previously tested as 5206 (11 bu/acre), AAC Julius of Valesco (10 bu/acre), AAC Beyond and 25 to 84 of Valesco (both nine bu/acre), 173 to 7406 of ProGene (42 bu/acre), AAC Chrome, and AAC McMurphy of  Valesco (both eight bu/acre). 

Scotts Bluff County, Box Butte County site’s alternative failed due to hail.

To learn more on ProGene Plant Research, visit https://www.progenellc.com/

To learn more on Valesco, visit https://www.greatnorthernag.com/genetics

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Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.