Your checkoff dollars at work
To kick of the New Year, stakeholders met with Montana State University plant breeding leadership to discuss and vote on four possible crop releases. It’s no surprise that this is a highly anticipated meeting because it’s when producers can see firsthand the fruits of their check-off investment. All four varieties were approved for release in conjunction with one other important item of significance.
The variety release committee with support of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) voted to include “MT” on the naming of all new public release. From now on every commodity release from MSU will be titled like last year’s MT Sydney hard red spring wheat.
“This change will bring clarity at the seed dealer for producers looking to purchase Montana State developed varieties. We are hopeful that it will continue to brand the highly successful public breeding program and improve the marketability of our genetics. Combining producer input, extensive agronomic trials and end use targets, these new varieties are a fit for your operation, and for our buyers around the world,” said Executive Vice President Cassidy Marn.
Varieties Released PVP title 5:
Spring Forage Barley: A cross between Lavina and CDC Cowboy resulted in the more reliable, harvest flexible “MT16F02902”. A taller, high yielding, awn less forage with extended grain fill period that is certain to be widely adapted in the northern plains, Dr. Jamie Sherman is hopeful to name the new release “MT Cowgirl”. MT Cowgirl will bring common sense, reliability and profits to producers looking to plant this new release. Let’s face it, a farm doesn’t need a cowboy anymore. The “MT Cowgirl” has proven to be the backbone of the operation.
Semi-Dwarf Spring Durum: MTD18313 is a spring durum with a pedigree of Alkabo/Brigade/Alzada/Strongfield. MTD18313 has high yield potential under dryland environments, early heading and maturity, consistent high-test weight under dryland environments, normal cadmium content, fungal leaf spot tolerance, sawfly tolerance and straw strength, good semolina quality, average protein strength and a pasta color retention trait. This variety will look to be an excellent tool in the tool belt for eastern Montana producers who want to harvest durum earlier and tend to have lodging issues on the farm.
Spring Durum: MTD18348 with a pedigree of Alzada/Strongfield//Brigade/Carpio. Favorable traits include very high yield potential, low grain cadmium accumulation, very high protein strength, excellent semolina quality, fungal leaf spot tolerance, good test weight, large seed size and high grain protein. MTD18348 is looking to rival the Golden Triangle mainstay of Alzada with superior yield and excellent pasta quality.
Hard Red Winter Wheat: MTS18149 with a pedigree of the semi-solid variety Loma (MAES, 2016) to AAC Gateway [Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Lethbridge, Alberta), 2012]. Great yielding, improved winter hardiness and higher stem solidness than Loma, aluminum tolerance, and excellent end use characteristics. End users will be delighted to see high falling numbers, low PPO, high water absorption and strong mix times (7.1 Min). Look to see MTS18149 be desirable for northern Warhorse and Loma producers as it out yields and has better stem solidness. Northern Golden Triangle winter wheat producers are recommended to give MTS18149 a try.