October 8, 1998

TO: County Extension Agents, Area Extension Agents, Research Center Directors, County Crop Improvement Association Presidents, NDCISA Directors, NDAA Seed Committee

                                                                                                       cc: Dr. C. Gustafson

RE: New NDAES Variety Releases for 1999                                   Dr. A. Schneiter

                                                                                                            Dr. L. Spilde

FROM: Galen L. Schroeder, Foundation Seedstocks                            Mr. Bill Kuntz

                                                                                                            Mr. D. Zetocha

Enclosed are yield data and agronomic descriptions for several new variety releases expected for 1999. These varieties were brought before the Variety Release Committee in 1998 but there was insufficient seed to release to the counties for the 1998 growing season. The new releases include:

Maier Durum                        Cathay Flax

Mountrail Durum                   Pembina Flax

While we do not yet know how many bushels we will have to allocate to the counties, the attached information can be used in your planning process. We have good supplies of both flax varieties and will have no problem distributing adequate quantities to any interested counties. Supplies of the durum varieties are limited. Allotments will be no larger than 40 bushels and at that rate we may not be able to provide allotments to all counties making a request. Hopefully the release of Ben and Belzer in the past 2 years will take some of the pressure off these durum releases.

There is a concerted effort amongst all involved within the NDAES to have the Variety Release meetings for 1999 earlier than what occurred for 1998. I do not know how many potential varieties will be brought before the Variety Release Committee. However, I can fairly safely say that if there are new releases coming out of the 1999 meetings, there will not be sufficient seed to release to the counties in 1999 --- with one possible exception. That one exception might be a Group 1.0 soybean that will fit in only 2 or 3 counties.

Please call Paulette or me to put your county on the Allocation Lists for these new varieties. Before you call, I feel it is important for some counties to take a hard look at how they are requesting allocations of every new variety and then backing out AFTER the allocations are made. The increasing incidence of this tactic is undermining the county allocation system and may result in a re-evaluation and changes within that system. It results in extra hassle and added expense to Seedstocks and the REC and often leaves bushels of a new variety unsold and sitting in a warehouse rather than being planted. If you have any questions, please call -- or plan to visit with me at the upcoming Fall Conference. Feedback is always appreciated.

NEW VARIETY RELEASES FOR 1999

MAIER DURUM (D89135)

Maier durum was named in memory of Mel Maier. It was presented to the Variety Release Committee in March 1998 but there was not enough seed to release to the counties for the 1998 growing season. Maier is a high yielding, high test weight, stiff-strawed, day-length sensitive durum wheat intended to replace Renville and Monroe. It has good yield potential across the state of North Dakota. Kernels are medium-sized with amber color. Maier has protein content higher than all other durum cultivars. It has good seminola extraction and strong gluten. Yield and agronomic characteristics of Maier compared to various other durum cultivars are shown in the attached Tables 1 and 2.

Maier is resistant to both leaf and stem rust diseases. Its leaf ratings for Tan spot and Septoria spp. Is higher than Ben and Rugby but is lower than all other cultivars with the exceptin of Munich. It has lower scab disease ratings than Monroe, Vic, Medora and Lloyd (Table 3).

MOUNTRAIL DURUM (D901313)

Mountrail durum was presented to the Variety Release Committee in March 1998 but there was not enough seed to release to the counties for the 1998 growing season. Mountrail is a late-maturing, high yielding, high test weight, stiff-strawed, day-length sensitive durum wheat intended to replace Renville and Monroe. It has good yield potential across the state of North Dakota. Plants are medium height. Kernels are medium-sized with amber color. Mountrail has high seminola extraction and strong gluten. Yield and agronomic characteristics of Mountrail compared to various other durum cultivars are shown in the attached Tables 1 and 2.

Mountrail is resistant to both leaf and stem rust diseases. It has moderate levels of resistance to Tan Spot and Fusarium head blight. (Table 3).

 CATHAY FLAX

Cathay flax has good oil content and oil drying quality. It is tall (average 64 cm), late flowering (average 47 days to first flower), blue flower, large seeds (5.7 gm/1000), brown seed coat (with up to 0.5% yellow seeds). Cathay is resistant to all known North American races of flax rust. It has good tolerance to wilt. Excellent yield response has been observed at the Carrington station. The area of adaptation is ND, SD, MN and the Canada Prairie Provinces. See Table 1 and 2 below.

PEMBINA FLAX

Pembina flax has good oil content and oil drying quality. It is tall (average 64 cm), late flowering (average 46 days to first flower), blue flower, large seeds (5.5 gm/1000), brown seed coat (with up to 0.5% yellow seeds). Pembina is resistant to all known North American races of flax rust. It has good tolerance to wilt. Excellent yield response has been observed in the flax growing region. The area of adaptation is ND, SD, MN and the Canada Prairie Provinces.  See Table 1 and 2 below.

Table 1. Summary of Agronomic Characteristics