An Update on Growing White Wheat in
North Dakota
NDSU Extension Service, ND Agricultural Experiment Station,
NDSU College of Agriculture
http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/
Why is there increased interest in white wheat this year?
The latest US Farm Bill offers incentives to growers to produce white wheat.
There is an incentive of $2 an acre to plant white wheat and an incentive of
20 cents for each bushel sold as white wheat. The US Government is providing
these incentives in order to increase the production of white wheat intended
for the large and expanding noodle market in Asia. Currently that market is
dominated by wheat from Australia. More background information on white
wheat can be obtained from Dr. Berzonsky�s web site (http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/berzonsk/breeding/White%20Wheat.html).
What varieties of HWW are available that have been tested in ND?
Argent
Argent was released by NDSU in 1998. Argent has excellent baking quality
and is genetically similar to Grandin. It is susceptible to leaf rust and
scab, is relatively early maturing, average yielding and has good straw
strength. Although Argent meets the color standards of a white wheat, its
kernel color is not as white as desired by some millers and end-users. The
quality of Argent makes it primarily suitable for bread-making; but its
starch and noodle color characteristics make it unsuited for the noodle
end-use market.
AC Vista
AC Vista was develop in Canada and has very good yield potential in
North Dakota (similar or better to Parshall in two years of testing at seven
locations in ND and MT). This variety is also more suited to a bread-making
market since it also does not exhibit desirable noodle color
characteristics.
Other HWW varieties:
The following varieties tested in ND performed relatively well, though
generally not as well as AC Vista for grain yield:
Lolo � developed by the University of Idaho, starch and noodle color
characteristics make it suited for the noodle market.
MT9420 � developed by Montana State University, it is suited more for
bread- making.
Is there any special management required to grow HWW?
For white wheat intended for bread making (i.e. Argent), high protein is
required so N management should be similar to that used for HRSW. Lower
protein (10-12%) is required in varieties grown for the noodle market, so
late-in-the-season applications of N should be avoided. All HWW varieties
adapted to ND are susceptible to scab, so if grown in a scab prone area of
the state, they should be sprayed with an approved fungicide. Leaf rust is
likely to be a problem with most HWW varieties, although I do not have the
specifics of any but Argent (which is susceptible). White wheats are more
prone to sprouting than HRSW, so they should be harvested in a timely manner
in order to avoid sprouting. Preliminary evidence suggests that growing
white wheat genotypes under irrigation will elevate grain ash content, which
could be an undesirable result if it is intended for a noodle end-use market
as higher ash tends to discolor noodles.
Where can I get seed of HWW varieties and where can I market my crop
after harvest?
Since white wheat varieties vary considerably in their end use, you should
know where you will market your wheat before planting. In many cases
your market will dictate the variety that you should grow. Seed of
Argent (registered class in 2003) and Lolo (certified) is available through
the Crop Improvement Association (for details see Bulletin 92, North Dakota
Field Inspected Seeds, 2003). There also are a few private
sources of white wheat seed. The following groups have contracted with
growers to produce white wheat in the past: Dakota Pride Cooperative and
Harvest States Cooperative.
By Dr. Joel K. Ransom, April 2003, NDSU Extension Agronomist for Cereal Crops |
