January 27, 1999

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

RE: New NDAES HRSW Variety Releases for 1999                         cc: Dr. C. Gustafson

FROM: Galen L. Schroeder, Foundation Seedstocks                               Dr. A. Schneiter

                                                                                                                Dr. L. Spilde

                                                                                                                Mr. Bill Kuntz

                                                                                                                Mr. D. Zetocha

Enclosed are yield data and agronomic descriptions for two new HRSW experimental lines which have been recommended for variety release in 1999. These varieties were brought before the Variety Release Committee on January 26, 1999.  If they are approved for release by the Director of the ND Agricultural Experiment Station, there is sufficient seed to release to the County Crop Improvement Associations for the 1999 growing season. The experimental lines summarized in Table 1 below include:

The accompanying information can be used in the planning process with your crop improvement board to determine if your county wants to ask for an allotment.  In the interest of making seed allocations of these varieties as soon as possible, I ask that you notify me of your county requests as quickly as possible.  

This information is also being placed on the Foundation Seed Web page along with the earlier releases that have been announced.  Look under "Seed Increase Program".   Please call or e-mail Paulette  (231-8067) or me (231-9633) to put your county on the Allocation Lists for any of the new releases.  I will post all responses to the Web page (GO TO Seed Increase Program and then GO TO County Crop Improvement Associations).  There is a sign-up deadline date of February 17, 1999. You should also have your requests finalized for Maier and Mountrail durum as well as Cathay and Pembina flax, which were announced earlier, by the same date.

Before you make your request, let me reiterate that 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.

Also, it is important for the CCIA and the increase grower to understand that accepting an allocation for seed increase is a business decision which carries a certain amount of risk.  There are added costs associated with certified seed production compared to grain production.  That is part of the cost of doing business as a seedsman as opposed to being a grain farmer.  There is no gaurantee that the seed of the new varieties increased by the grower will sell.  

If you have any questions, please call.  Feedback is always appreciated.  

UNNAMED EXPERIMENTAL HRS WHEATS:

Conventional Height HRSW (ND694):

Unnamed HRSW (ND694)  is an awned, conventional height variety with heading date 1 day earlier than Keene and Trenton;  plant height is similar to Keene and lodging resistance is similar to Kulm.  It has satisfactory shattering resistance and has shown excellent test weight.  It has shown excellent yield potential in ND trials.  ND694 is resistant to prevalent leaf and stem rust races and is moderately resistant to tan spot. It is susceptible to Fusarium head blight which makes it more adapted for western North Dakota.  Protein content is equal or better than Grandin and Butte 86.  ND694 is rated as having good quality relative to milling, mixing and baking properties.

Semi-Dwarf HRSW (ND695):

Unnamed HRSW (ND695) is an awned, semi-dwarf variety with heading date and plant height similar to Grandin.  Lodging resistance slightly less than Grandin.  Shattering resistance is similar to Hamer and Trenton.  It has shown good yield potential in ND and test weight was greater than Grandin in 1998 trials.  ND695 is resistant to prevalent leaf and stem rust races and moderately resistant to tan spot.  It is susceptible to Fusarium head blight which makes it more adapted for western North Dakota.   Protein content is slightly lower than Grandin and Butte 86. ND695 is rated as having average quality relative to milling, mixing and baking properties.