Winter wheat data from the 2024-2025 Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Trials (MCVET) is in! This data provides farmers with unbiased information regarding regional variety performance, allowing for variety comparison. Data was derived from small plot replicated trails from locations across Manitoba. Fungicides were not applied to these plots; thus, true genetic potential can be evaluated. Although considerable data is collected from MCVET, the disease ratings are from variety registration data.

Table 1. 2025 MCVET Winter Wheat Variety Descriptions (Table sourced from the 2024-2025 winter cereal MCVET trial and Seed Manitoba)

Table 2 below summarizes the yield results from the 2025 MCVET data by trial location. The yield results represent 2025 data only; therefore long-term trends should be considered when making variety selection decisions. Previous yield data can be found in past editions of Seed Manitoba. As well, apart from yield, there are other variety characteristics to consider when making variety selection decisions, these include disease, insect, and lodging resistance. Check out this Manitoba Crop Alliance article for more information on considerations when selecting a new cereal variety.

Table 2 also indicates if there were yield differences between varieties at each trial site. If there was a significant yield difference the least significant difference (LSD) is also included. The LSD (bu/ac) signifies the smallest difference necessary in bushels per acre for two varieties to be considered statistically significantly different from each other.

Table 2. 2025 MCVET winter wheat trial yield comparison (Table sourced from the 2024-2025 winter cereal MCVET trial and Seed Manitoba).

The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) has also released its 2025 Variety Market Share Report. This report breaks down the number of acres seeded to each crop type in Manitoba. As well, the relative percentage of acres each variety was seeded on within each crop type is reported. This information is useful to understand overall production patterns in Manitoba. A link to the 2025 report can be found here.

It is important to note that farmer members’ dollars directly contributed to the plant breeding research activities which were instrumental in the development of the top winter wheat varieties.

Select takeaways

A small number of winter wheat acres were seeded again in the 2024-2025 growing year, with approximately 41,000 acres seeded.

Figure 1. Summary of the amount of winter wheat acres seeded in Manitoba over the last six growing seasons. Data obtained from MASC Variety Market Share Reports from 2020-2025.

Seven varieties by percentage acres seeded are listed in Table 3, these are not the only varieties listed in this year’s MASC Variety Market Share Report, but represent 95 per cent of the seeded acres. All seven seeded varieties are Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat.

Table 3. 2025 seven winter wheat varieties by percentage of seeded acres in Manitoba.

Note: * Data obtained from MASC 2025 Variety Market Share Report.

AAC Wildfire was the top seeded winter wheat variety, occupying 39.5 per cent of seeded winter wheat acres. This is a decrease of just over 13 per cent from 2024. AAC Wildfire was registered in 2015. AAC Vortex, which was registered in 2021, was seeded on just over 22 per cent of acres in 2025, up around 13 per cent from 2024. AAC Vortex is a medium-maturing variety with relative winter hardiness. AAC Goldrush, which was registered in 2016, decreased in percentage of acres seeded by just over one per cent from 2024 to 2025. AAC Overdrive, which was registered in 2022, increased by six per cent in 2025. Emerson, which has a Fusarium head blight rating of “resistant,” has been the most seeded variety in Manitoba for several years. However, its acreage has continued to drop in 2025.

Seed Manitoba Variety Selection and Growers Source Guide should be consulted when making variety selections.