AgriPro Wheat Hopes to Make Waves with Norpro, Hanna, Knudson

By Tracy Sayler

While AgriPro Wheat continues to refine its Clearfield spring wheat varieties for release within a few years, the company is hopeful that its three newest varieties—Norpro, Hanna, and Knudson—will make waves in the 2003 growing season.

AgriProWheat released Norpro last year.  Joe Smith, AgriPro’s spring wheat breeder, says Norpro is broadly adapted for production in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Eastern Montana, although variable weather in 2002 generally resulted in better performance in the southern and western areas of the Northern Plains, and more variable performance in the northeast.

Smith says Norpro is balanced for yield potential and protein, with medium maturity and good straw strength. It has good leaf rust and foliar disease tolerance, but is not tolerant to scab.

Hanna and Knudson are available for general release in 2003.  Hanna is being billed as a replacement for the popular AgriPro variety Gunner, but with improved agronomics and 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).

“Hanna can be grown further south than Gunner,” says Smith. “It has about an 8% higher yield, and matures about two to three days earlier than Gunner.”

Knudson, named for Bob Knudson, AgriPro’s longtime northern business manager who is now retired, 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. Knudson promises to be the most widely adapted spring wheat variety AgriPro has ever released, says Smith.

“It held up better to bacterial infections and ‘wet feet’ better than other popular varieties in 2002,” he says, “and in some fields there was what you might call a ‘yield lean.’ Knudson has moderately strong straw strength, and high yielding fields may lean, but not necessarily lodge.”

Hot temperatures during critical stages of wheat development hurt yields in some areas of the Northern Plains in 2002, says Smith.  Leaf rust infections occurred very early in some fields, and foliar diseases were heavy in some areas.  Bacterial infections could be found in Red River Valley wheat fields. Early plantings escaped scab (Fusarium head blight), which could be found in northern growing areas of Minnesota and North Dakota.

Smith offers general observations of Northern Plains spring wheat production in 2002:  “It was too dry in some areas and too wet in others, but heat was a critical factor in many areas in reducing yields.  Early-heading varieties generally had an advantage, because they escaped the heat. Alsen did not do as well in 2002 as it did in 2001. We saw a little more leaf rust this year on Reeder and Parshall than the year before.  As well, the performance of Gunner was adversely affected by early heat and leaf rust, but there’s still some interest in this variety for its scab tolerance, protein, and sprout tolerance.”

Smith says varietal performance varied considerably at AgriPro’s nine spring wheat testing locations this year (one in S.D., three in Minn., and five in N.D.)  For example, while research data results were discarded in Belfield, N.D., because of drought, results were discarded from the testing site in Borup, Minn., because of flooding.  Best performance results in 2002 were at AgriPro’s Breckenridge, Minn. spring wheat plots location.

Table 1.  2000-2002 Over Year Summary Ranked By Yield-AgriPro Data

					Test					Foliar	Leaf- Rust
		Yield- Bu/A			Wt.	Prot.	Head 2	Ht.	Lod.	Dis.	1-9		Worth
VARIETY	00	01	02	AVG	LBS/ BU	%	1-9	1-9	1-9	1-9	01	02	1-9
N98-0286	77.6	61.3	47.9	59.4	58.8	14.2	5.2	5.1	2.7	4.4	2	3.5	3.9
KNUDSON	67.7	61.1	46.8	57.1	60.4	14.4	4.8	6.1	3.8	3.0	1	2.0	3.7
MERCURY	72.3	59.7	46.0	57.0	59.2	14.5	4.7	4.7	1.7	4.2	2	2.5	3.8
N99-0107	63.7	62.3	46.8	56.9	59.7	14.9	4.0	6.7	5.0	4.0	3	2.5	5.0
NORPRO	72.7	57.8	47.3	56.7	59.4	15.0	5.4	4.8	3.3	3.3	2	3.0	3.3
HJ98	64.3	59.6	42.8	54.3	58.4	14.7	5.3	6.1	5.2	4.8	4	4.0	4.7
OXEN	62.1	60.8	41.3	53.9	58.0	15.2	3.4	5.4	7.3	6.6	3	5.5	5.3
IVAN	72.9	55.5	42.2	53.8	59.4	13.7	6.9	4.5	1.5	3.4	1	2.0	3.7
READER1	66.7	55.7	42.6	52.9	59.6	15.4	3.9	6.6	4.0	3.5	3	4.5	4.6
WALWORTH	62.1	57.9	41.8	52.8	58.9	15.3	2.9	7.1	6.8	6.2	6	6.5	6.0
LARS	70.7	56.4	39.2	52.7	57.5	14.2	5.6	3.8	1.3	3.6	4	3.5	3.1
DANDY	64.3	58.1	39.8	52.6	60.0	14.6	4.0	5.7	1.7	4.3	6	3.0	4.4
HAGAR	66.9	56.1	39.4	52.0	58.8	15.1	6.5	6.1	2.7	3.6	2	3.0	4.5
SAXON1	65.5	54.4	42.1	51.9	57.2	15.0	5.0	7.0	3.9	4.1	2	2.0	5.4
AURORA	65.5	55.5	39.6	51.5	57.7	14.1	6.2	3.6	1.3	3.2	3	3.0	3.2
RUSS	63.5	52.7	43.0	51.1	58.4	14.7	3.4	6.9	5.7	6.4	6	6.5	5.0
ALSEN	53.8	58.0	39.0	50.3	60.9	15.7	3.9	5.9	3.3	4.7	2	3.0	4.2
HANNA	62.3	52.7	40.5	50.0	60.0	15.3	4.8	7.8	5.2	5.4	4	4.0	4.8
PARSHALL	59.0	52.9	41.7	49.9	61.4	15.5	3.6	7.9	3.5	4.2	5	6.0	5.3
INGOT	62.3	54.1	37.0	49.4	61.4	15.1	1.9	7.7	4.8	6.6	8	7.5	5.8
GUNNER	58.8	51.1	34.4	46.4	59.8	15.7	6.7	7.8	5.3	4.7	7	7.0	5.2
GRANDIN	55.7	49.3	35.9	45.6	58.7	15.4	3.8	7.1	3.5	6.2	8	8.0	5.4
NORA	52.8	50.8	32.5	44.5	57.8	16.3	4.3	4.4	3.0	6.7	3	3.5	5.0
MEAN	65.8	56.5	42.0	52.9	59.3	14.7	4.6	5.6	3.3	4.4	3.3	3.6	4.3
NO. OF LOCS.	2	5	4	11	11	10	10	3	2	6	1	2	9
1Not tested in 2000, data adjusted for averages 2 Heading: 1= early; Height: 1 = short; Lodging: 1 = no lodging; Foliar disease: 1 = no disease

As well as evaluating spring wheat varietal performance over the last three years, Smith also compares the three-year performance of leading private and public spring wheat varieties by economic return, using the 10-year average premium for wheat protein (see table 2). “Right now there’s little to no premium for protein, but over the last 10 years, it’s averaged 44 cents.  The premium is going to come back, so it should be factored into economic potential,” says Smith.

Table 2. 2000-02 Over Year Summary Ranked By Economic Return - AgriPro Data (Using 2002 Local Price and Ten Year Average Protein Premium)

							Test					Foliar	Leaf Rust
	Econ.	Return 3		Yield-Bu/A			Wt.	Prot.	Head. 2	Ht.	Lod	Dis	1-9
VARIETY	$/Bu	Net $/A	00	01	02	AVG	LBS/ BU	%	1-9	1-9	1-9	1-9	01	02	1-9
NORPRO	4.86	120.52	72.7	57.8	47.3	56.7	59.4	15.0	5.4	4.8	3.3	3.3	2	3.0	3.3
N99-0107	4.82	119.12	63.7	62.3	46.8	56.9	59.7	14.9	4.0	6.7	5.0	4.0	3	2.5	5.0
N98-0286	4.51	112.73	77.6	61.3	47.9	59.4	58.8	14.2	5.2	5.1	2.7	4.4	2	3.5	3.9
OXEN	4.94	111.49	62.1	60.8	41.3	53.9	58.0	15.2	3.4	5.4	7.3	6.6	3	5.5	5.3
READER1	5.02	110.74	66.7	55.7	42.6	52.9	59.6	15.4	3.9	6.6	4.0	3.5	3	4.5	4.6
MERCURY	4.64	109.52	72.3	59.7	46.0	57.0	59.2	14.5	4.7	4.7	1.7	4.2	2	2.5	3.8
WALWORTH	4.98	107.99	62.1	57.9	41.8	52.8	58.9	15.3	2.9	7.1	6.8	6.2	6	6.5	6.0
KNUDSON	4.60	107.43	67.7	61.1	46.8	57.1	60.4	14.4	4.8	6.1	3.8	3.0	1	2.0	3.7
HJ98	4.73	101.95	64.3	59.6	42.8	54.3	58.4	14.7	5.3	6.1	5.2	4.8	4	4.0	4.7
HAGAR	4.90	99.76	66.9	56.1	39.4	52.0	58.8	15.1	6.5	6.1	2.7	3.6	2	3.0	4.5
ALSEN	5.02	97.64	53.8	58.0	39.0	50.3	60.9	15.7	3.9	5.9	3.3	4.7	2	3.0	4.2
SAXON1	4.84	96.42	65.5	54.4	42.1	51.9	57.2	15.0	5.0	7.0	3.9	4.1	2	2.0	5.4
PARSHALL	5.02	95.68	59.0	52.9	41.7	49.9	61.4	15.5	3.6	7.9	3.5	4.2	5	6.0	5.3
HANNA	4.98	94.05	62.3	52.7	40.5	50.0	60.0	15.3	4.8	7.8	5.2	5.4	4	4.0	4.8
DANDY	4.68	91.25	64.3	58.1	39.8	52.6	60.0	14.6	4.0	5.7	1.7	4.3	6	3.0	4.4
INGOT	4.90	86.93	62.3	54.1	37.0	49.4	61.4	15.1	1.9	7.7	4.8	6.6	8	7.5	5.8
RUSS	4.73	86.77	63.5	52.7	43.0	51.1	58.4	14.7	3.4	6.9	5.7	6.4	6	6.5	5.0
LARS	4.49	81.72	70.7	56.4	39.2	52.7	57.5	14.2	5.6	3.8	1.3	3.6	4	3.5	3.1
IVAN	4.36	79.85	72.9	55.5	42.2	53.8	59.4	13.7	6.9	4.5	1.5	3.4	1	2.0	3.7
GUNNER	5.02	78.06	58.8	51.1	34.4	46.4	59.8	15.7	6.7	7.8	5.3	4.7	7	7.0	5.2
GRANDIN	5.02	73.87	55.7	49.3	35.9	45.6	58.7	15.4	3.8	7.1	3.5	6.2	8	8.0	5.4
NORA	5.00	67.55	52.8	50.8	32.5	44.5	57.8	16.3	4.3	4.4	3.0	6.7	3	3.5	5.0
MEAN	4.77	94.06	65.8	56.5	42.0	52.9	59.3	14.7	4.6	5.6	3.3	4.4	3.3	3.6	4.3
NO. OF LOCS.			2	5	4	11	11	10	10	3	2	6	1	2	9
1Not tested in 2000, data adjusted for averages 2 Heading: 1= early; Height: 1 = short; Lodging: 1 = no lodging; Foliar disease: 1 = no disease    3 Economic return per bu. calculated using Sept. local cash grain price of $4.42 for 14% protein and 10 year avg. MGE protein

AgriPro Increasing Clearfield Spring Wheat Seed
AgriPro Wheat was anticipating releasing two new spring wheat varieties in 2002 geared for the Clearfield Production System, trademarked through BASF. However, the company held off, to bolster the genetic herbicide tolerance of the company’s new seed products.  Rollie Sears, one of AgriPro Wheat’s research leaders, says the genetics of the company’s Clearfield lines have been improved, and Clearfield spring wheat varieties can be expected in the marketplace within several years.

The Clearfield wheat varieties have conventionally-bred genetic resistance to Beyond herbicide, whose active ingredient is imazamox.  It will provide broad-spectrum control of numerous broadleaf and troublesome grassy weeds, including wild oats and foxtail.

Separately, Sears notes that AgriPro Wheat has invested in new greenhouses at all of its wheat breeding locations. “It’s intended to help our breeders become more productive,” he says.

AgriPro Wheat holds the same position on biotechnology as others in the wheat industry, says Sears: the company supports research on biotech wheat, but believes that its release and commercialization should be directed by the marketplace. “We want to be the leading genetics supplier in the wheat industry, and want to partner with traits developers in deploying their traits in wheat varieties,” says Sears.  “But those traits need to be acceptable to growers and the entire marketplace. (Commercialization of biotech wheat) requires a balanced approach guided by communication involving all aspects of the wheat industry.”

Estimating the Certified Wheat Seed Market
What is the “sold seed” or certified seed market for wheat-producing states? AgriProWheat marketing manager Bill Kuntz is gathering more detailed estimates to what otherwise has been an educated guess.

Kuntz recently analyzed the sold seed market in North Dakota, with estimates by county, based on statistics from the N.D. State Seed Department and assumptions based on accurate reports by seed labelers, and a 100 lb/acre seeding rate.  Out-of-state seed sales weren’t included in the estimate.

His estimates indicate that about one-fourth of all wheat seed sold in N.D. from 2000 to 2002 was certified. In the Red River Valley, it’s closer to 50%, and as high as almost 70% in Cass County.

Western N.D. Brownbagging Case Going to Court
AgriPro Wheat has taken a more aggressive stance in recent years in prosecuting the “brownbagging” of AgriPro wheat varieties. Brownbagging refers to the illegal selling of seed from privately-developed crop varieties protected under federal law.

Bill Kuntz, AgriPro Wheat’s national marketing manager, says that the company has four active brownbagging cases in court across the U.S., including one in western N.D.  “In this instance, for the first time, the case not only involves the seller, but five buyers and a seed conditioner who knew that the seed was Gunner,” says Kuntz. “We don’t want to profit from this.  We simply want to protect the investment in our wheat genetics.”