Winter Wheat: An Excellent Option For 2007-2008

Winter wheat was an excellent crop in 2006 and 2007. With any moisture this fall to get the crop started, winter wheat looks like an excellent option going into 2008. .

Variety Breakdown

It is recommended to plant the most winter hardy varieties. These would include Jerry, Ransom, CDC Falcon, and CDC Buteo. Varieties that are fair for winter hardiness would include Jagalene, Arapahoe, Millennium, and Wesley.  

* Jerry has been one of most consistent winter wheat varieties. It is considered high yielding, is tall with strong straw strength and has good winter hardiness.

 * Ransom has good winter hardiness, is tall with average straw strength.

 * CDC Falcon has good winter hardiness, short plant height with strong straw strength. Falcon is very susceptible to fungal leaf diseases and scab. A fungicide application at the flag leaf stage or at heading should be highly considered.

 * SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Jagalene has only fair winter hardiness in North Dakota. Jagalene is susceptible to leaf rust and is very susceptible to scab. A fungicide application at the flag leaf stage or at heading should be highly considered.

* Millennium: A 1999 release from SD/NE.  Millennium has fair winter hardiness. It has medium plant height and average straw strength. It has a good leaf disease package and has yielded well with only being fair for winter hardiness in North Dakota.

Variety by Fungicide Trials 2005-2007:

Fungicide trials have conducted in recent years to evaluate winter wheat variety response to fungal leaf disease with and without a fungicide application. A single fungicide application was applied at the late flag leaf to early flower compared to the untreated.  In 2005 and 2007, the weather conditions were very favorable for leaf spot disease and leaf rust. There was heavy fungal leaf disease pressure on the untreated plots in both years. In 2006, there was very little disease pressure due to dry June conditions.