Varieties

The plant breeding program at Montana State University is an essential part of agriculture for the state. Montana producers choose to plant varieties developed by the program because they are specifically adapted to Montana’s climate and several are resistant to common diseases and pest found statewide. In addition, the program is in contact with organizations and buyers from around the world collecting data on the needs of the end user. 

Note the chart below which reviews some of Montana’s breeding priorities.

Take a look through our new Spring Wheat Varieties guide, hot off the press! Click on the cover image to read through the entire guide, including Montana spring wheat varieties currently in use by Montana producers,  each WQI score tested at Montana State University’s Wheat Quality Lab, and testimonials by end users.

If you would like to receive a hard copy, email us:  wbc@mt.gov

 

Choosing a modern, high yielding and disease resistant variety adapted to the growing environment is a crucial management decision. Each year, every breeding program screens around 2500 lines for evaluation. Over three stages of yield testing that take 4-5 years, lines are reduced from 100 to 30 to 10 to 5 to 1 or 2 with cultivar release potential.

Montana Crop Variety Lines-graph

Wheat Quality Council
Pacific Northwest Wheat Quality Council
MSU Cereal Quality Lab
MSU Malt Quality Lab
MSU Foundation Seed
Montana Seed Growers Association
MSU Schutter Diagnostic Lab
Montana Agriculture Research Stations

The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee partners with a multitude of entities to ensure best possible outcomes.

Our partners screen new lines to determine agronomic and end-use viability. This information helps guarantee that new releases will have excellent agronomic characteristics, as well as superior milling and baking qualities. 

Northern is a hard red winter wheat developed by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and released to growers in fall 2015. Northern was named to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Havre, Montana. Northern is derived from a cross between a Yellowstone sib line (MT9982) and hard white winter Montana (MTW0072) and Nebraska (NW97S151) experimental lines. Northern is a medium-late maturing, medium-short statured wheat, with white chaff. Northern has average yield (similar to Yellowstone and Colter, see Table 1), average test weight, and average protein (Table 2). Northern is resistant to both stem and stripe rust. Northern has above average milling and average baking properties

Bobcat: An awned, white-glumed, semi-dwarf wheat with medium to late maturity. Stem solidness is excellent with improved yield potential. Above average test weight, average protein, and average winter hardiness. Resistant to prevalent races of stripe and stem rust, but susceptible to leaf rust. Medium high PPO with above average milling and baking properties. Top performing in locations where sawfly cutting has occurred.

Flathead: A hollow-stemmed, medium height wheat with white chaff. Average yield, above average test weight, and average protein, with average winter survival. Out-yields other early maturing varieties. Flathead has excellent resistance to stripe rust and moderately resistant to both stem rust and dwarf bunt. Medium PPO with above average milling and baking characteristics.

Top Grown Varieties:

Warhorse is the most common winter wheat variety planted on 30.2 percent of Montana’s 2021 total winter wheat acres. Warhorse is a solid-stemmed hard red winter wheat released in 2013 by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. Warhorse has medium maturity and has medium short, semi-dwarf height. Warhorse yield is similar to Judee, while test weight and protein are above average. Warhorse is resistant to both stem and stripe rust. Warhorse has acceptable mill and bake qualities.

Yellowstone is the second most common winter wheat variety for 2021. It accounts for 9.5 percent of the state’s planted winter wheat acreage. Yellowstone is a hard red winter wheat developed by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and became available in 2005. The variety is high yielding with medium test weight, maturity, height, and protein. It has excellent baking and good noodle qualities. Yellowstone is moderately resistant to dwarf smut and stripe rust but is susceptible to stem rust.

Keldin ranks third in winter wheat acres for 2021 and accounts for 8.9 percent of planted winter wheat acreage. Keldin is a medium late, semi-dwarf hard red winter wheat. It has excellent yield and a strong stem. It also has good resistance to disease. It was developed by Pflanzenzucht Oberlimpurg of Germany and licensed to WestBred.

Judee is the fourth most common winter wheat variety planted in Montana. It accounts for 7.2 percent of the total winter wheat acreage in 2021. Judee is a white-glumed, semi-dwarf wheat that performs well in locations where sawfly cutting has occurred. Judee was developed by the Montana Agricultural Extension Station and released to growers in 2011. Judee is susceptible to prevalent races of leaf rust and stem rust, but resistant to stripe rust. 

Brawl CL Plus is the fifth most common winter wheat variety planted on 6.4 percent of Montana’s total acres of winter wheat for 2021. Brawl CL Plus is a hard red winter wheat developed by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station released in 2011. It is tolerant of the Imazamox herbicide (Beyond), resistant to stripe rust, has high test weight and superior milling and bread baking qualities. It is suited for dryland and irrigated production in the west-central Great Plains.