Glenn & Divide Most Popular Wheat

Based on a June survey of approximately 2700 producers, the top two hard red spring wheat varieties in North Dakota remain Glenn and Faller, according to Jim Peterson, North Dakota Wheat Commission marketing director. Combined, the two varieties account for nearly 30% of the acres. Barlow, RB07 and Brennan round out the top five.

Divide remains the leading durum variety in the state with nearly one third of the acres. Acres planted to Divide have grown each of the past five years. The other top varieties include Mountrail, Alkabo, Lebsock and Grenora together they account for 40% of acres. All are releases from NDSU. Divide is a variety that is near the top for yield and disease resistant traits and also provides domestic and export customers with improved end-use quality performance, especially gluten strength. Mountrail remains stable in acres because of its high yield potential. Alkabo is gaining in popularity due to its quality and yield. For the end-users it has excellent color and gluten qualities. Other durum varieties which advanced in acres in 2011 include Tioga (NDSU), DG Max (Dakota Growers Pasta Co.) and Strongfield (Ag. Canada).

Now back to the hard spring wheat varieties. Glenn has been the leading variety in North Dakota since 2007. It holds 18% of the acres this year which is a slight decrease from last year. Glenn is popular with growers because of its balanced agronomics, disease resistant traits and comparatively higher protein levels. Customers like it for its superior milling and baking quality. Faller held onto second place despite a decline in acres. It accounts for 11 percent of the acres and is most popular in the three eastern Wheat Commission districts where the scab disease has been prevalent. It never gathered much interest among western North Dakota growers because of it lower protein content and reduced yield potential in drier environments.

Barlow, a 2009 NDSU release, had the most significant gains in 2011, moved into third place with nearly 9% of the acres, compared to one percent in 2010. A variety from the University of Minnesota, RB07, captured fourth place with 7% of the acres, up slightly from last year. To my surprise, Barlow is the leading variety in the southwest district. The AgriPro variety, Brennan, has moved into 5% of the acres. Barlow, RB07 and Brennan are gaining in popularity because of their balance of yield and protein.

For winter wheat, Jerry remains the most popular with 38% of the acres followed by CDC Falcon with 11%. Other varieties in the top five include Hawken, Jagalene and Overland. Jerry was released in 2001 by North Dakota State University. Over the years it has been noted for its good winter hardiness, good yields and resistance to stem rust. It also has improved resistance to leaf rust as compared to the once popular Roughrider variety. I look for a new variety, named Decade, to eventually become popular. It is a new variety just released jointly by Montana State University and North Dakota State University. The Williams County Agricultural Improvement Association did approve a grower contract with Leon Helstad, Williston, and the NDSU Agricultural Experiment Station. A limited amount of seed is expected to be available for this coming planting season.