Pullman, Washington
July 18, 2008
Spring and winter wheat varieties
developed by Washington State
University scientists continue to dominate Washington's
growing wheat acreage, according to 2008 statistics recently
released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Overall, total acreage planted in wheat in the state has
increased by 250,000 acres in the past year. Winter wheat
acreage grew by 80,000 acres to approximately 1.8 million;
spring wheat grew by 170,000 acres to about 620,000.
"Washington wheat growers are among the leaders worldwide in
quality and productivity," said Dan Bernardo, dean of the WSU
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.
"Their support of and partnership with WSU wheat breeders
contributes significantly to that success."
In particular, growers have adopted a new spring wheat variety,
Louise, developed for release in 2007 by Kim Kidwell, WSU spring
wheat breeder and associate dean of academic programs of CAHNRS.
According to the statistics, Louise is the top variety of common
spring wheat planted in the state, at 155,000 acres. That's
almost double the 80,800 acres planted with Louise in 2007, and
represents one of the first times a spring wheat has ranked
second in the overall wheat acreage in the state.
Eden, a white club spring wheat also developed by Kidwell, was
the only white club variety reported, for a total of 7,500
acres. Hard red spring wheat variety Hollis, another variety
developed by Kidwell, ranked in the top three varieties of hard
red spring wheat planted in the state.
"The success of our breeding program is determined by how many
acres of our varieties are grown by Washington wheat producers.
It is very exciting for us to have released the number two wheat
variety grown in the state," Kidwell said.
In winter wheat, WSU professor Stephen Jones' Bauermeister
variety topped the hard red winter wheat category with nearly
75,000 acres planted. His varieties of soft white club wheat -
Bruehl and Edwin - held two of the top three spots in that
category.
"Bruehl, in particular, is looking good in this very dry year.
It also is an excellent emerger, so it should continue as the
number one club wheat next year as well," Jones said.
Both Kidwell and Jones noted that there are several promising
new varieties due to be released in time for next year's
planting, including Xerpha (soft white winter), Farnum (hard red
winter), Whit (soft white spring), and Kelse (hard red spring).
"Although our recent releases are terrific, we truly believe
that our best varieties may be yet to come," said Kidwell. |
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