so many choices…€¦ · • neighbours are growing glenn • concerned about fhb • would like...

So Many Choices…

Which Wheat to Grow?

Robert J. Graf

Agriculture & AgriFood Canada

Lethbridge Research Centre

Variety Choice is Increasing

CWRS = 35

CPSR = 5

CWES = 3

CWHWS = 3

CWSWS = 3

CWGP = 4

Supported for registration = 8

CWAD = 7

CWRW = 7

CWGP = 5

Supported for registration = 5 2

QUESTION 1

What is the most important consideration when choosing a

wheat variety?

– Market class?

– Yield?

– Protein content?

– Price of seed?

– FHB resistance?

– Straw strength?

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Manitoba Acreage and Yield 2012

Glenn 396 K 52 bu/A

Harvest 391 46

CDC Falcon 384 70

Kane 309 48

Carberry 293 53

AC Domain 153 42

AC Barrie 122 45

CDC Buteo 103 56

WR859 CL 90 53

5603HR 69 43

CDC Go 56 56

5602HR 54 42 4

QUESTION 2

How often do you change wheat varieties?

– Every year?

– Every two years?

– Every five years?

– Huh, there are new varieties to choose from?

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QUESTION 3

How often do you change canola varieties?

– Every year?

– Every two years?

– Every five years?

– Huh, there are new varieties to choose from?

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Contemplating a change?

Ask yourself the following questions…

• Why do I want to switch varieties?

• What do I like about my current variety?

• What could be improved?

• What are the specific characteristics that I consider

most important in this crop?

– yield, maturity, straw strength, resistance to specific

diseases, sprouting resistance, height, protein content, etc.

• What are the price differences? Are there incentives?

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Scenario: Farm in Portage, MB

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• Currently growing Harvest

• Neighbours are growing Glenn

• Concerned about FHB

• Would like shorter straw to aid harvestability

• Want good grade retention

STEP 1: Collect Information

Several good sources of information

• Provincial variety guides / Yield Reports

• Seed company information

• Listen to the experiences of your neighbours

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QUESTION 4

Where do you get your variety performance data?

– Manitoba Seed Guide

– Company information / websites

– Neighbours?

– MMPP / Crop Insurance data (Yield Manitoba)?

– All of the above?

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STEP 2: Identify CRITICAL NEEDS

DON’T LOOK AT YIELD (for now)

In many cases it is non-yield characteristics that will

determine the success of a variety!

For non-yield characteristics:

• Identify critical needs

• Decide on acceptable and unacceptable ratings

• Mark unacceptable ratings for critical traits

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12

• Currently growing Harvest

• Neighbours are growing Glenn

• Concerned about FHB

• Would like shorter straw to aid harvestability

• Want good grade retention

• Looking for high yield, short/strong straw, FHB & rust

resistance, sprouting resistance, high protein

STEP 3: Determine minimum acceptable ratings

• Yield >> current variety

• Strong Straw VG (like Harvest)

• Height < Harvest

• Sprouting Resistance Good or better

• Protein Content = Harvest

• FHB MR (>> Harvest)

• Stem Rust R (like Harvest)

• Leaf Rust MR (like Harvest)

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15

BLANK OUT YIELD


17

BLANK OUT

NON-CRITICAL

CHARACTERISTICS


20

BLANK OUT

UNACCEPTABLE

RATINGS


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WHAT’S LEFT?

25

SK = F


26

Am I alright with my

current variety?

Should I make

compromises?







• FHB I (still better than Harvest)

• Stem Rust R (like Harvest)


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• Stem Rust MR (still good)


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• Sprouting Resistance Fair or better



• Stem Rust MR (still good)


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35

CDC Plentiful might be the best “new” choice

in your unique situation

QUESTION 5

How many of you visit their local McVet site every year?

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Comparing Yield Among Varieties

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Not all comparisons are “head-to-head”

• Too expensive to test all varieties every year

• Varieties are compared to a common check

• Look at number of station-years of testing

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Var A

Var B

Var C

Var D

Var E

Var F

Var G

Var H

Var I

Var J

Var K

Individual Site Data

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Individual Site Data

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• BEWARE using individual site data – only a snapshot.

• Make comparisons over several years.

– Generally more variation from year to year than site to site.

• How does the variety perform relative to the mean?

– Are one or two sites skewing the average up or down?

– Same goes for protein!

Crop Insurance Data

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Summary & Conclusions 1

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• Yield should not necessarily drive variety change.

• Look at other characteristics first!

• Genetic potential often masked by poor growth conditions

• Can management factors be adjusted for better

performance? … and at a comparable cost?

– Fertility, Rotation, Weed Control, Tillage, Fungicides, etc.

• Yield is not the only factor that affects net return!

• Marketing options, time of sale, freight rates, etc.

Summary & Conclusions 2

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• The best variety choice may be the one you are growing.

• If making a change, try 2 – 3 varieties on a smaller scale.

• Don’t judge a variety based on 1 year of experience.

• Get updated information when it is available.

• No variety will be the perfect answer.

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Thank You

Dr. Rob Graf

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Lethbridge Research Centre

5403 - 1st Avenue South

P.O. Box 3000

Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1

Tel.: 403-317-2258

E-Mail: [email protected]

so many choices…€¦ · • neighbours are growing glenn • concerned about fhb • would like...

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