Western Canadian farmers seeded more Superb in 2006 than any other single variety of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat, according to the Canadian Wheat Board's (CWB) annual variety survey. Superb narrowly edged out AC Barrie, which has held the top spot since the CWB began conducting its annual variety survey in 1998.

"We're seeing a real turnover in varieties," said CWB board chair Ken Ritter, who farms near Kindersley, SK. "In the CWRS class alone—which represents most of wheat we grow on the Prairies—nearly half the varieties that farmers grew in 1998 are no longer around today. Even the ones that took over in 1999 and 2000 are on the decline. New varieties are coming along more quickly, and it's so valuable for farmers to know what others are growing."

Nearly 70 per cent of Canada's wheat crop is comprised of varieties that fall within the CWRS class. Just over 18 per cent of CWRS acres were seeded to Superb, while just under 18 per cent were seeded to AC Barrie. McKenzie, increasing in acreage to nine per cent, remains the third most common CWRS variety.

In the Canadian Western Amber Durum (CWAD) class, which represents 20 per cent of wheat acreage on the Prairies, AC Avonlea remains in top spot with 40 per cent of CWAD acreage. Kyle has declined from a peak of 78 per cent in 1999 but retains its number-two ranking. Strongfield, a new variety introduction promoted through the CWB's Identity Preserved Contract Program (IPCP), has jumped to third spot overall and number two in Alberta.

"Strongfield is a good example of what the CWB accomplishes through the IPCP," said Earl Geddes, vice-president of Product Development and Marketing Support. "It's all about researching the needs of the marketplace, and encouraging farmers to grow grains customers want while achieving the yields and quality that make it worth their while."

Two-row and six-row malting varieties account for more than 62 per cent of total barley acres in western Canada, according to the CWB survey. AC Metcalfe continues to rank as the favourite two-row malting barley variety, with 60 per cent of two-row barley acreage. The variety Legacy now dominates the smaller six-row class with 43 per cent of six-row acres.

Each year, the names of farmers who participate in the CWB variety survey are entered in a draw. The winners of the first prize, a SeCan seed voucher worth $2,000, are Gilbert and Wilma Giesbrecht of Carbon, AB. T.B. Heinrichs of Fiske, SK, won the second-prize, a $500 seed voucher from Canadian Seed Growers. Winner of a handheld GPS for online submission is Robertson Farms of Treherne, MB.

More than 9,700 farmers participated in this year's variety survey, with more than 20 per cent filing online. Complete survey results may be viewed online at http://www.cwb.ca/en/growing/variety_survey/results.jsp.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.