Beginning July 15, seed partners of Montana State University (MSU) will pay the first research fees on Choteau hard red spring wheat.

The 30-cent per bushel fee on sales of certified Choteau seed was approved in 2004. It is part of a broader policy to charge a research fee on sales of some Montana Agricultural Experiment Station wheat and barley varieties, said Bill Grey, manager of the Montana Foundation Seed Program housed at MSU. Choteau is the first variety to come under the new policy.

"Money collected from the fee will finance developing and evaluating new varieties in numerous field locations throughout Montana. The benefits of breeding new varieties are numerous, including producing specific flour for bread and noodles and varieties with increased pest and disease resistance," said Jeff Jacobsen, director of the Experiment Station.

This is the first year Choteau has been available for end-use sale. It is a solid-stemmed variety that is very resistant to wheat stem sawfly. Certified seed growers will collect the fee from Choteau seed buyers. Montana Foundation Seed Program staff predict that up to 18 percent of spring wheat plantings soon may be of Choteau, replacing older solid stem varieties. That could generate as much as $60,000 in research fees from the sale of 200,000 bushels of certified Choteau, said Grey.

In practice, the impact of the fee may be less than 30 cents per bushel, he said, because growers are allowed to increase the seed for their own use. Growers often increase their seed stocks of a new variety over a few years from the initial purchase of certified seed before planting a larger portion of their farm. They are not allowed to sell their crop of Choteau to other growers.

Grey said he thought that a producer with 1,500 acres might plant just 40 bushels of seed stock the first year. A purchase of 40 bushels of certified Choteau would generate $12 in fees. With one good year of seed increase, this initial $12 becomes less than one penny for each of the 1,500 acres that could be planted the following year, Grey said.

Both the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee and Montana Grain Growers had representatives on the committee that approved the new fee, Grey said.

In addition to research, the fee helps pay to protect wheat and barley varieties developed by station breeders. By signing the required research fee agreement, seed partners agree to pay the annual fee and inform buyers of the restrictions when growing a protected variety such as Choteau. Laws restrict unauthorized reproduction and sale of protected varieties, though end-use sales are encouraged. The intent is to ensure that seed labeled as Choteau has all of the disease and insect resistance, as well as growth and yield characteristics of the original seed stock.

"In the near future, MSU will release other protected varieties that have a research fee," Grey said.

Once growers purchase certified Choteau seed they can raise the variety for their own uses without paying the fee. However, growers cannot sell or barter in exchange for the seed.

"As growers and seed handlers become more aware of the advantages and regulations regarding plant variety protection, there should be fewer violations," said Ron Larson, manager of the Montana Seed Growers Association.

Information on the research fee and protection of MSU varieties can be obtained during the MSU Research Center field days in July. For additional information contact Grey at 994-5687.