Perennial Wheat: An Option for Producers in the Northern Plains?

The use of perennial wheat (PW) as an alternative cropping system is being researched in the Pacific Northwest. But it is feasible in the Northern Plains?

“It is a great idea but in this area, it is a long shot,” says Dr. Mohamed Mergoum, wheat breeder at NDSU.  “The technology has not been established yet as these studies are in the very early stages of research for PW.”

Perennial wheat would be bred to develop the key characteristics of annual wheat but it will continue to grow after harvest.  Following dormancy in the winter, growth is initiated from the roots or crowns in the spring, allowing a crop to be harvested every fall. “Technically, it would be wonderful if you only needed to seed wheat once every 4 or 5 years,” says Mergoum. “Right now, there is a lot of research that has to be done, especially because our environment is very harsh.”

Dr. Jim Anderson, wheat breeder at the U of M agrees.  “It is a possibility that PW can be grown in this area but winter hardiness is the big issue. In the state of Washington, they have much milder winters than we have in Minnesota. So what is acceptable winter hardiness there, may not be good enough here. Apart from the winter hardiness, it also has to be more resistant to some of the soil borne diseases and viruses.”

PW research is being conducted at Washington State University and The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas in an attempt to breed an efficient and effective perennial wheat seed.  Breeders there are focusing on different desirable traits for PW, specifically, traits that are resistance to diseases and insects, drought tolerance and improving yields, which in the past has had a tendency to produce typically only 70 percent of the best bread wheat cultivars.   PW could also be planted for non-production purposes, such as ground cover for highly erodible lands, wildlife habitat, or possibly carbon sequestration credits.

Both wheat breeders don’t see PW in the Northern Plains anytime soon but agree that it is worth testing if the genetics of PW will fit our area. “I think most of the wheat breeders in this region are taking a wait and see approach,” says Mergoum. “It might just take a breakthrough in science and have a gene developed with perennial characteristics and it will happen.”

“PW is worth a look in this area but we certainly need to test it for a couple of years before I would advise growers to start picking it up,” Anderson says. “We will have our own unique issues with PW if and when it does arrive here.”