To assist Manitoba farmers with variety selections this fall, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) and MCVET (Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Team) is publishing the most recent variety descriptions and performance data for winter wheat. Farmers should consider a number of factors when selecting a winter wheat variety, including yield potential, agronomic and disease package, and marketing options.
YIELD POTENTIAL
Yield is based on the genetic potential and environmental conditions in which the crop is grown. Farmers should look at long-term, multi-site data and select those varieties that perform well not only in their area but across locations and years.
In the 2010 Winter Wheat Variety Descriptions table, the
CDC Buteo
CDC Falcon
CDC Harrier
CDC Raptor
McClintock~
Radiant~
Accipiter~
Broadview~
CDC Ptarmigan
Peregrine~
Sunrise
~ Indicates a variety that is protected by Plant Breeder’s Rights or a variety where protection has been applied for but not yet granted at time of printing.
CDC Buteo
CDC Falcon
CDC Raptor
McClintock~
Accipiter~
Broadview~
CDC Ptarmigan
Peregrine~
Sunrise
~ Indicates a variety that is protected by Plant Breeder’s Rights or a variety where protection has been applied for but not yet granted at time of printing.
101 100 102 97 97
95
104 105 105 108
116
“Yield % Check” column provides an indication of how a variety performed compared to the check CDC Falcon.
The “Site Years Tested” shows the number of sites where an entry has been tested with CDC Falcon. The more site years, the more dependable the data. Remember that only direct comparisons can be made between CDC Falcon and whichever variety chosen to compare it to. For example, direct comparisons cannot be made between Accipiter and Radiant as those varieties may never have been tested in the same trial. The grey “Check Characteristics” box displays the long-term yield, number of site years and other check attributes.
The 2010 Winter Wheat Yield Comparisons table provides individual site data. Note the grey shaded area as it provides important information needed to read the data. The check yield (CDC Falcon) in bushels per acre is listed below each site. CV is the Coefficient of Variation
99 100 91
95
105 105 108 108
116
56
46
64
63
39
13
7
29
13
7
78
100
67
77
95
92
112
97
101
4 0 4 4 5
7
3 1 3 2
4
79 100 76
69
87 108 78 99
91
4
0
8
3
7
4
3
2
8
10
6
and it is an indicator of how uniform a trial is; the smaller the CV, the greater the chance that true differences were found between varieties in the trial. LSD stands for Least Significant Difference and it shows the percentage that individual varieties must differ by to be considered significantly different. Sign Diff stands for significant difference and a “yes” or “no” will indicate if a real difference exists between varieties at an individual site. While data from single sites is often more interesting, individual site data, and even data accumulated over numerous sites in a single year must always be viewed with caution varieties that excel under one set of environmental conditions may not perform as well under the next year’s conditions.
LOOK AT THE TOTAL PACKAGE, NOT JUST YIELD
Although yield is generally the first information looked at, farmers also need to compare
G VG G VG VG
VG
VG VG F G
G
110
100
107
114
113
114
117
118
159
G
G
G
VG
VG
VP
VG
VG
P
VG
G
103 100 94
99
110 102 90 104
101
G G P G G
VP
G VG P G
G
varieties for maturity, height, standability, resistance to disease and relative winter hardiness when selecting a variety that is best suited to their farm. Two factors farmers should think about when selecting a variety, taking into consideration the 2010 crop year, are fusarium head blight and stubble conditions.
FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT
Downgrading due to fusarium head blight (FHB) infection was an issue for many winter wheat producers this year. Winter wheat varieties generally have poor genetic tolerance to FHB. As such, varieties currently available are generally considered susceptible, effectively removing variety selection as a management tool. However, earlier flowering of winter wheat, relative to spring wheat, may allow winter wheat to escape infection. Management strategies such as early seeding date (ideally
104
100
94
102
107
100
131
111
120
VG
F
G
G
F
VG
G
G
G
VG
G
107 100 114
111
118 115 132 116
117
SeCan
SeCan
SeCan
SeCan
CANTERRA SEEDS
CANTERRA SEEDS
SeCan
CANTERRA SEEDS
Western Ag
SeCan
Western Ag
109
100
78
88
103
103
96
110
114
before Labour Day) and shallow seeding (aim for a half inch) can have a large influence on the crop’s ability for early flowering.
STUBBLE CONDITIONS
Ask any winter wheat grower and they will say the key to successful winter wheat production is having suitable stubble available in the ideal planting window. To optimize winter survival, stubble needs to hold four inches or more of snow. If farmers are facing poor stubble conditions, they should consider other compensating factors that may contribute to winter hardiness.
Variety selection can be one tool. Relative winter hardiness ratings presented in the variety descriptions table are derived from data presented at time of registration as well as grower experience. For newer varieties there is limited information currently available. As varieties are grown on more acres in commercial production, a better understanding of winter hardiness will follow.
However, the winter wheat varieties available for production in Manitoba all have good winter hardiness if no-till seeded into standing stubble. In addition to variety selection, farmers should consider increasing their seeding rates if seeding into less-than- ideal stubble. Since there are differences in seed size, instead of aiming for a seeding rate in bushels per acre, take into consideration target final plant stand, germination percentage and thousand kernel weight when figuring out seeding rate. Farmers should also use other best management practices to help ensure winter survival such as early seeding, seeding shallow, using starter fertilizer, and employing a weed management program in the fall.
CHANGES COMING
Winter wheat has a number of end-use and marketing opportunities, including milling, feed grain and ethanol production. Manitoba farmers should take note as of August 1, 2013, CDC Kestrel, CDC Clair, CDC Harrier, CDC Raptor and CDC Falcon will be moved from the Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) class to the Canada Western General Purpose (CWGP) class.
In the interim, there are proposed grade standards changes that will take effect August 1, 2011. The changes include a minimum grade specification of 11 per cent protein for No. 1 and No. 2 CWRW, create a No. 3 CWRW grade for deliveries with less than 11 per cent protein, and reduce fusarium-damaged kernels tolerances.
Farmers need to be aware of these changes as variety selection will impact end-use and marketing opportunities.SEED MANITOBAwill continue to provide the latest unbiased information on winter wheat varieties for Manitoba producers. SEED MANITOBAis a collaborative effort between the Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives and the Manitoba Co-operator.Data for all crops will be published inSEED MANITOBA2011 this December.
———
2010 WINTER WHEAT VARIETY DESCRIPTIONS
Resistance to:VarietyCanada Western Red WinterYield % CheckSite Years TestedDays to Maturity +/-CheckHeight +/-CheckLodgingStem RustLeaf RustRelative Winter Hardiness
Distributor
———
Canada Western General Purpose
———
DH99W18I*45 DH99W19H*16
Varieties that are being tested or proposed for registration
DH00W31N*34
CHECK CHARACTERISTICS
CDC Falcon
105
107
104
82 bu/ac
7
13
7
69 site years
2
2
1
7
6
1
26 inches
G
VG
VG
VG
VG
VG
VG
VG
VG
G
G
G
–
–
–
———
2010 WINTER WHEAT YIELD COMPARISONS
VARIETYCanada Western Red Winter2010 Average YieldArborgCarmanRoblin2010 Yield: % of CDC FalconRosebankStonewallWawanesa
Winnipeg
———
Canada Western General Purpose
———
DH00W31N*34
Varieties that are being tested or proposed for registration
DH99W18I*45
DH99W19H*16
CHECK YIELD
105
114
104
CDC Falcon (bu/ac)
CV %
LSD %
Sign Diff
84
128
83
66
7.8
13
Yes
104
105
106
83
7.6
13
Yes
125
109
103
93
11.8
20
Yes
110
109
105
75
5.8
10
Yes
97
106
105
87
4.4
7
Yes
123
115
117
69
7.5
13
Yes
90
128
105
75
7.5
13
Yes
Comments