Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada
February 16, 2007
It is the time of year when
new grain varieties are examined for possible registration. One
of the steps involves the Prairie Grain Development Committee,
which is holding meetings next week in Saskatoon.
Producers, through the
Western Grains Research Foundation wheat and barley
check-off’s, have supported many of the recently registered
varieties of wheat and barley as well as many of the varieties
up for registration.
Western Grains supports many breeding programs from around
Western Canada, with both long-term and short-term agreements,
leveraging every dollar invested to attain additional government
funds that match or double the investment made by producers.
Recently registered varieties to watch for:
Wheat
- Kane was
registered in 2006, and falls under the CWRS wheat class.
This variety was developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada (AAFC) at the Winnipeg research station. Kane is
suitable for growing in all areas of the prairies and has
some very good improvements when compared to other varieties
in the same class. These improvements include higher yield
in Manitoba, high test weight, very good leaf rust
resistance, good stem rust resistance and very good
resistance to preharvest sprouting. Kane also appears to be
an excellent milling wheat with higher flour yield and lower
ash content than the check varieties in each year of testing
during the registration trials.
- Alvena
received its registered stamp of approval in 2006 under the
CWRS wheat class. This variety was developed out of the AAFC
station in Swift Current. Alvena is an early maturing wheat
with strong straw strength and leaf and stem rust
resistance.
- SWS349 is a
soft white spring wheat developed by the AAFC Lethbridge
Research Centre. Recommended in 2006, it is nearing
completion of the registration requirements. Expected to be
a great option for the ethanol industry, this variety will
come equipped with an excellent agronomic package, good
disease resistance, improved test weight and very good
quality. Best suited to Alberta and Western Saskatchewan,
this variety also has good shattering resistance.
Barley
- Millhouse
was registered in 2006 and is the first registered
variety of its type, containing properties that allow
barley grain to be processed in the same fashion as
wheat. Millhouse is bred to complement wheat for milling
purposes - the advantage lies in the fact that it
provides more dietary fibre than wheat, as well as other
unique health benefits tied directly to barley.
Millhouse was bred at the AAFC research station in
Brandon.
- Binscarth
was developed by the AAFC station in Brandon, and was
registered in 2006. Binscarth is a six-row forage barley
that has high silage production potential for the
Parkland region of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It out
yields Virden and AC Ranger by up to 9% across the
growing region for forage, and the forage quality is
superior to any other forage cultivar. Binscarth also
can be used for emergency grazing where needed, as it
can be regrazed.
- CDC Coalition
was registered in 2005 and is a two-row feed variety
from the Crop Development Centre at the University of
Saskatchewan (UofS). With good adaptability across
Western Canada, it shows top yield potential, excellent
straw strength, high test weight and is resistant to
stem rust and the smuts.
- CDC Aurora
Nijo, registered in 2005, is the first variety
resulting from a joint barley R&D project bringing
together the U of S Crop Development Centre, Sapporo
Breweries (Japan) and Prairie Malt Ltd. It is a two-row
malting variety with a malting and brewing quality
profile suited to processes at Sapporo Breweries in
Japan and will be grown under contract in Western Canada
for that market. Its performance is similar to
Harrington but it has improved straw strength, test
weight, plumpness and better net blotch resistance.
|
|
