AgriPro Postpones Release of Clearfield Spring Wheat

AgriPro Wheat has pushed back the release of its Clearfield spring wheat varieties by two to three years, to polish the genetic herbicide tolerance of the company’s new seed products.

“We’re billing our Clearfield varieties as seed which will allow broad spectrum weed control, and we want to hold to that promise,” says Rob Bruns, AgriPro Wheat’s general manager, Berthoud, Colo. “The herbicide label is expected to be ready, and we’re anxious to begin marketing Clearfield wheat as well, but the seed just isn’t ready yet. It’s unfortunate that we need to hold off on our seed release, but it’s the right decision to make.”

AgriPro Wheat was anticipating releasing two new spring wheat varieties in 2002 geared for the Clearfield Production System, trademarked formerly through American Cyanamid, now BASF. The Clearfield spring wheat varieties will now be released in 2003 or 2004.

The Clearfield wheat varieties have conventionally-bred genetic resistance to imazamox herbicide, which will enable season-long, broad-spectrum control of numerous weeds, including wild oats and foxtail.

One Clearfield line is derived from the popular AgriPro spring wheat variety Gunner, and will be adapted for production north of I-94 in the Northern Plains. The other variety AgriPro is developing for use in the Clearfield Production System is an Ivan/Russ cross, adapted for production primarily south of I-94.

AgriPro Wheat is still moving forward with its Clearfield winter wheat varieties, releasing five new varieties in winter wheat growing areas of the U.S. last fall.

Joe Smith, AgriPro Wheat’s spring wheat breeder, says he is not entirely disappointed in the delay of Clearfield spring wheat varieties, since the company is releasing several other promising new spring wheat varieties over the next several years.

NorPro is the newest variety widely available for general release this year. Smith says it is broadly adapted for production in the Dakotas and Minnesota, balanced for yield potential and protein, with medium maturity and very good straw strength.  It has good leaf rust and foliar disease tolerance, but is not tolerant to scab.

Hanna and Knudson will be increased by certified seed growers this year for general release in 2003. Hanna is being billed as a replacement for the popular AgriPro variety Gunner, but with broader adaptation.  It is a standard height, medium-early maturity variety with very high test weight, high protein, and pre-harvest sprout tolerance.  It has fair foliar disease tolerance, is moderately resistant to leaf rust, and has very good tolerance to fusarium head blight (scab).

Knudson, named for longtime AgriPro sales manager Bob Knudson, is a tall semi-dwarf, with medium-early maturity, high yield potential, very good leaf rust and foliar disease protection, and very good tolerance to scab.  “It promises to be the most widely adapted variety AgriPro has ever released,” says Smith.

Take at least two to three years of performance data into account when comparing varieties, Smith suggests.  “In our plots last year, every location seemed to have its champ,” he says.  “It’s more accurate to select varieties based on long-term results.”

1999-2001 OVER YEAR SUMMARY RANKED BY ECONOMIC RETURN - AGRIPRO DATA (using local price and ten year average protein premium)   Economic Return3 Yield - Bu/Ac.   TW Pro Head2 Ht Lod. Fol. Dis. Leaf Rust Variety $/Bu Net $/A 1999 2000 2001 Avg lb/bu % 1-9 1-9 1-9 1-9 1-9 NorPro 3.09 182.82 54.0 72.7 57.8 59.1 59.8 14.8 5.1 4.9 3.3 3.2 2 Walworth 1 3.22 179.65 50.0 62.1 57.9 55.8 59.4 15.1 2.9 7.2 6.8 6.1 6 Oxen 3.00 178.87 56.7 62.1 60.8 59.5 58.7 14.6 3.4 5.4 7.3 6.8 3 Alsen1 3.37 177.32 46.6 53.8 58.0 53.1 61.4 15.4 4.0 6.2 3.3 5.0 2 Gunner1 3.34 170.49 47.1 58.8 51.1 51.0 61.3 15.6 6.4 7.5 5.3 4.5 7 Knudson 2.78 169.6 57.3 67.7 61.1 60.9 60.8 14.1 4.6 5.8 3.8 3.1 1 Parshall 3.22 169.11 48.8 59.0 52.9 52.5 62.0 15.1 3.9 7.8 3.5 4.1 5 Mercury 2.78 169.04 56.2 72.3 59.7 60.7 60.1 14.1 5.1 4.8 1.7 4.1 2 Hagar 3.09 16874 46.5 66.9 56.1 54.6 59.4 14.8 6.2 5.9 2.7 3.5 2 Hanna1 3.18 167.59 47.9 62.3 52.7 52.7 60.7 15.0 4.8 7.7 5.2 5.8 4 Ingot 3.09 164.02 47.1 62.3 54.1 53.3 62.1 14.8 1.9 7.6 4.8 6.9 8 2375 3.05 162.02 47.3 56.5 56.5 53.2 60.5 14.7 3.8 6.9 6.3 6.8 8 Nora 3.34 160.2 42.0 52.8 50.8 48.0 58.8 15.9 4.1 4.4 3.0 6.8 3 Dandy 2.87 158.19 46.7 64.3 58.1 55.1 60.6 14.3 4.0 5.8 1.7 4.6 6 Ivan 2.63 156.82 58.4 72.9 55.5 59.7 60.1 13.4 6.5 4.7 1.5 3.3 1 Grandin 3.22 156.05 43.8 55.7 49.3 48.5 59.4 15.1 3.6 6.7 3.5 6.4 8 HJ98 2.83 155.75 44.8 64.3 59.6 55.1 59.0 14.2 5.1 5.7 5.2 5.0 4 Lars 2.70 154.41 51.3 70.7 56.4 57.1 58.2 13.8 5.3 4.0 1.3 3.5 4 Russ 2.87 154.17 50.0 63.5 52.7 53.7 59.2 14.3 3.6 6.9 5.7 6.2 6 Aurora1 2.70 149.86 50.4 65.5 55.5 55.5 58.8 13.8 6.3 3.7 1.3 3.0 3 Forge 2.92 148.80 43.3 59.3 53.9 51.0 60.3 14.4 1.9 6.7 4.0 6.7 7 McVey 2.61 144.12 48.7 62.9 57.5 55.3 58.2 13.3 6.8 7.3 7.3 4.0 3 Mean 2.99 163.53 49.3 63.1 55.8 54.8 60.0 14.6 4.5 6.1 4.0 5 4.3 No. of locs.     4 2 5 11 13 9 12 3 2 6 2 1 Not tested in 1999, data adjusted for averages 2 Heading: 1 = early; Height: 1= short; Lodging: 1 = no lodging; Foliar disease and leaf rust: 1 = no disease 3 Economic return per bu. calculated using Sept. local cash grain price of $2.74 foir 14% protein and 10 yr avg.  MGE protein premium discounts and typical test weight discounts.