Trigen Seed Releasing New Variety Banton in ‘05

Trigen Seed LLC, Bloomington, MN, will release Banton in 2005, the new company’s first private hard red spring wheat variety adapted to Northern Plains growing conditions.

Banton is a cross between Argentine variety Buck Antorcha with the University of Minnesota variety HJ98.  “Crosses between U.S. and Argentine varieties often show remarkable genetic combining ability, and may provide varieties with good adaptation in both countries,” notes Bob Romig, founder of Trigen Seed and developer of the variety.

The mid-season, semi-dwarf, hard red variety has rust resistance and strong straw, promising to thresh well without shattering.  It has high test weight and protein, and promises to respond well to intensive management.

Trigen also markets two Argentine varieties under license in the U.S., one that performs well under irrigated and rainfed conditions in the Pacific Northwest, and a grazing variety in Texas.

Romig has over 40 years of experience as a wheat breeder, starting his career with the Rockefeller Foundation Agricultural Program, first in Colombia and Ecuador and later in Chile. He is also former vice president of research at Northup King Co., now know as Syngenta Seeds.

For the production of foundation seed for Trigen, Romig formed a partnership with two other Minnesota family enterprises, Backstrom Farms at Warren and Friederichs Seed Farm at Foxhome. Trigen also operates as a partnership in Argentina as Trigen Semillas S.A. Trigen Seed’s principal nurseries are now located in Minnesota and Washington, with off-season nurseries in Arizona and New Zealand.  Romig can be contacted at 952.829.7740, bobromig@mn.rr.com .