Blog: Agronomy & Extension

Winter Wheat Variety Yield and Market Share Data – 2024

Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Trial Data

Winter wheat yield data from the Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Trials (MCVET) is in for the 2024 growing season. 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 amounts of data are collected from MCVET, the disease ratings are from variety registration data.

Table 1. 2024 MCVET winter wheat variety descriptions

Note: Table 1 sourced from MCVET team.

Table 2 below summarizes the yield results from the 2024 MCVET data by trial location. The yield results represent 2024 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, such as 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 signifies the smallest difference necessary in bushels per acre for two varieties to be considered significantly different from each other.

Table 2. 2024 MCVET winter wheat yield comparison data

Note: Table 2 sourced from MCVET team.

MASC Variety Market Share Data

The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) has also released its 2024 Variety Market Share Report. This report breaks down the number of acres seeded to each crop type in Manitoba, as well as the relative percentage of acres each variety was seeded on within each crop type. This information is useful to understand overall production patterns in Manitoba. A link to the 2024 report can be found here.

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

Select takeaways

A small number of winter wheat acres were seeded again in 2024, with approximately 35,000 acres seeded.

Figure 1. Summary of the amount of winter wheat acres seeded in Manitoba over the last five growing seasons. Data obtained from MASC Variety Market Share Reports from 2020-2024.

Eight varieties by percentage acres seeded are listed in Table 1, these are the only varieties listed in this year’s MASC Variety Market Share Report. All eight seeded varieties are Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat.

Table 1. The top eight 2024 winter wheat varieties by percentage of seeded acres in Manitoba.

Variety

Wheat Class

Yield (bu/ac)**

Relative Maturity**

Lodging**

Relative Winter Hardiness**

FHB Resistance**

Relative Acreage (%)*

AAC Wildfire

CWRW

89

Late

Good

Very Good

Moderately Resistant

 

52.8

Emerson

CWRW

83

Medium

Very Good

 

Good

Resistant

14.7

AAC Vortex

 

CWRW

87

Medium

Very Good

Very Good

Moderately Resistant

8.9

AAC Goldrush

 

CWRW

82

Medium

Good

Very Good

Intermediate

7.9

No Var

 

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

7.7

AAC Gateway

 

CWRW

82

Medium

Very Good

Fair

Intermediate

5.2

CDC Buteo

 

CWRW

80

Medium

Fair

Very Good

Moderately Resistant

2.7

AAC Overdrive

CWRW

82

Early

Very Good

Very Good

Moderately Resistant

0.2

Note: * Data obtained from MASC 2024 Variety Market Share Report. ** Data obtained from the 2023 MCVET Winter Wheat and Fall Rye report. Fusarium Head Blight; FHB.

AAC Wildfire was the top seeded winter wheat variety, occupying 52.8 per cent of seeded winter wheat acres. This is an increase of just over nine per cent from 2023. AAC Wildfire was registered in 2015 and is a late maturing CWRW variety. AAC Vortex, which was registered in 2021, was seeded on just under nine per cent of acres in 2024, up close to five per cent from 2023. AAC Goldrush, which was registered in 2016, decreased in percentage of acres seeded, dipping by just under five per cent from 2023. AAC Overdrive, which was registered in 2022, increased in acres seeded by 0.2 per cent in 2024.

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 dropped just over 20 per cent since 2022. A similar trend was seen in AAC Gateway, which dropped from 16.1 per cent in 2022, to just over five per cent in 2024. AAC Elevate, which had steady acreage of just over five per cent in 2022 and 2023, dropped out of the top eight in 2024.

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

Prairie FHB Risk Map Info Update July 2024 

The Prairie Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) Risk Map interactive tool provides information on the risk of FHB, Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) and deoxynivalenol (DON) for spring wheat, durum, winter wheat and barley across the agricultural region of the Canadian Prairies. 

The new FHB risk maps indicate varying risk levels between crop types, which is expected. For example, the durum and barley maps have been showing a low risk for FHB while spring wheat maps have been showing a higher risk level. These risk levels are contrary to what producers expect, especially for durum, as it is more susceptible to FHB than spring wheat. 

The risk model algorithms were developed independently of each other and were selected based on their individual statistical accuracy. Significant efforts have been and continue to be made to ensure the risk maps represent risk accurately for different cereal crops and regions of the prairies. The risk maps are based on air temperature, humidity, and precipitation levels reported at weather stations. Each algorithm uses different weather parameters, including air temperature, humidity, and precipitation levels reported at weather stations. As a result, the risk level determined at a given location and a given day can vary between the different models for each crop and risk type. 

For instance, FHBi risk was best predicted in durum when humidity is above 80 per cent and temperature is between 15-30°C. For barley, the selected parameters are rainfall and temperature between 25-28°C. While spring wheat risk is based on maximum relative humidity and temperature. The algorithms selected for each crop best represented the risk to that crop over the past five years. 

It is important to note that if your field is irrigated, the risk level displayed on this map may not be representative for your field. The FHB risk level on irrigated fields is normally higher than that shown on this map because the weather data input does not account for irrigation practices that have an influence on parameters that influence fusarium. 

Until the start of July 2024, we did not have many hours that meet both conditions to hit the high-risk thresholds for the maps for durum and barley. This reinforces that the FHB risk maps are a tool that should be used in conjunction with daily field scouting, field history, crop rotation, crop stage, economics and the producers’ own individual risk tolerance. 

If you want to discuss the maps further, please contact your provincial cereal crop commissions or pathologists. 

Identifying heading and flowering growth stages in wheat and barley for FHB spray timing

Identifying wheat and barley growth stages is integral for proper application timing of crop protection products. Application timing of crop protection agents can strongly influence product effectiveness. This is no different for fungicide application timing for Fusarium head blight (FHB) suppression. Below are pictures that can help guide scouting efforts to determine crop stages, which can help you make informed fungicide application decisions.

Figure 1. Spring wheat at different growth stages (head emergence to flowering). Photo used with permission from Dr. Andrew Friskop of North Dakota State University.
Figure 1. Spring wheat at different growth stages (head emergence to flowering). Photo used with permission from Dr. Andrew Friskop of North Dakota State University.

In Figure 1 (above), growth stages range from late head emergence to multiple stages of flowering in spring wheat. Wheat is self-pollinating and begins to flower shortly after head emergence. Wheat head #3 (red box) is at the early flowering stage (GS 61). This is identified by anthers (yellow filaments) extruding from the middle to upper-middle portion of the wheat head only. Flowering moves both upwards and downwards along the wheat head until completion (spike #4 and #5). Flowering progression can move quickly depending on temperature. The degree of flowering will vary within a field; therefore, it is important to check 7-10 spots across a field when determining a crop’s growth stage. Click here for more information on spray timing and fungicide management for FHB.

Figure 2. Barley head emergence growth stages. Photo used with permission from Dr. Andrew Friskop of North Dakota State University.
Figure 2. Barley head emergence growth stages. Photo used with permission from Dr. Andrew Friskop of North Dakota State University.

In Figure 2 (above), the barley head outlined with the red box is at full head emergence, while barley heads #1 – #3 are still emerging. Barley flowers at a different growth stage compared to wheat. Barley flowers while in the boot and as the head emerges. This makes barley flowering difficult to identify. However, the optimal spray timing for FHB suppression differs between wheat and barley. Waiting until the majority of barley heads (70 – 100 per cent) on the main stem have fully emerged to three days post head emergence is the recommended spray timing for most fungicides approved for use on barley. (Always read and follow product labels and label directions. Refer to the Manitoba Guide to Field Crop Protection 2024 for more information.) Good coverage of the barley head is necessary for FHB suppression. Click here for more information on spray timing and fungicide management for FHB.

Information from Table 1 (below) was acquired from Table 3. Foliar Fungicides for Disease Control in Wheat and Barley in Manitoba’s Guide to Field Crop Protection 2024. Always refer to Manitoba’s Guide to Field Crop Protection and the product label before in-field application. As well, before fungicide application, review Keep it Clean to understand potential market access risk.

Table 1. Summary of products listed in Manitoba’s Guide to Field Crop Protection 2024 with suppression of FHB.

Product

Crop

Active Ingredient (Group)

Page

Advantage Prothioconazole 480 SC

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3)

602

Advantage Prothio +Teb 250 EC

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3) + Tebuconazole (3)

600

Advantage Tebuconazole 250

Wheat

Tebuconazole (3)

630

Bravo ZN / Bravo ZNC

Wheat

Chlorothalonil (M5)

545

Caramba

Wheat/Barley

Metconazole (3)

541

Echo NP/Echo 90WSP

Wheat

Chlorothalonil (M5)

545

Folicur

Wheat

Tebuconazole (3)

630

Holdfast

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3)

602

Hornet 432 F

Wheat

Tebuconazole (3)

630

Joust

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3)

602

MIRAVIS Ace

Wheat/Barley

Pydiflumetofen (7) + propiconazole (3)

578

Miravis Era

Wheat/Barley

Pydiflumetofen (7) + prothioconazole (3)

581

Orius 430 SC

Wheat

Tebuconazole (3)

630

Palliser

Wheat

Tebuconazole (3)

630

Pavise 480SC

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3)

602

Proline 480SC

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3)

602

Prosaro PRO

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3) + Fluopyram (7)

598

Prosaro XTR

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3) + Tebuconazole (3)

600

Roxar

Barley

Tetraconazole (3) + Metconazole (3)

622

Shalimar

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3) + Tebuconazole (3)

600

Soraduo

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3) + Tebuconazole (3)

600

Soratel

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3)

602

Sphaerex

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3) + Metconazole (3)

627

StarPro

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3) + Tebuconazole (3)

600

Tebbie

Wheat

Tebuconazole (3)

630

TILMOR 240 EC

Wheat

Prothioconazole (3) + Tebuconazole (3)

633

Toledo 250EW

Wheat

Tebuconazole (3)

630

Twinline*

Wheat/Barley

Pyraclostrobin (11) + Metconazole (3)

637

VIKING Tebuconazole

Wheat

Tebuconazole (3)

630

VIKING Tromso

Wheat/Barley

Prothioconazole (3) + Tebuconazole (3)

600

Refer to product pages and labels for application information as well as expectations for control vs. suppression.

Post-registration Assessment of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Spring Wheat, Barley and Winter Wheat 

By Anne Kirk and Chami Amarasinghe, Manitoba Agriculture 

The Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Team (MCVET) has been evaluating the effects of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) on spring wheat, winter wheat and barley varieties under conditions of natural infection for a number of years. Varietal resistance ratings for FHB, as presented in Seed Manitoba, are determined through inoculated trials conducted during the period the variety is tested in the variety registration system. While this provides good information on resistance to FHB, the data generated provides limited comparisons with other registered varieties.

Post-registration FHB analysis provides an opportunity to compare fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) and deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation among registered varieties over a number of locations in Manitoba. Fungicides are not applied to MCVET trials, and FHB infection is the result of natural infection. Due to variety turnover in MCVET trials, on-going analysis is required to evaluate the response of newly registered varieties. 

In 2023, DON accumulation was low at the majority of sites. At the spring wheat sites, mean DON accumulation was below the detection limit of 0.5 ppm at ten of the eleven sites tested; DON ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 ppm at the one site where DON was detected (Table 1). Mean DON accumulation at the barley sites was below detection limit at six of eleven sites, and ranged from 0.5 to 0.8 ppm at the remaining sites (Table 2). Mean DON accumulation in winter wheat was below detection limit at all sites tested (Table 3). Varieties with the highest FDK and DON levels were generally rated as susceptible (S), moderately susceptible (MS), or intermediate (I) for FHB resistance; however, there is variability in FDK and DON within each of the five resistance categories. 

FHB infection is highly influenced by environmental conditions; however, there are management options that should be used to mitigate the risk of FHB. The first step is to select varieties with improved resistance to FHB. Resistance ratings published in Seed Manitoba are a good first place to look for disease resistance information. Caution must be used with one year of data, as presented in these tables. Other management strategies include crop rotation and fungicide application. 

Thanks to Manitoba Crop Alliance for providing funding to conduct FDK and DON analysis and the Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Team and contractors who provided the harvested samples.

Seeding Date and Seeding Rate Considerations for Spring Cereals

There are many considerations when planning spring seeding of wheat and barley. Seeding date and seeding rate are two variables to think about to get your crop off to a good start.

Seeding Date

 

Seeding date is an important factor to consider, as it can impact overall crop yield. In Manitoba, spring wheat and barley are usually seeded between May 1 and 30. Although, if the conditions are optimal, farmers have been able to seed in April.

  • If conditions are conducive to seeding, earlier seeded (figure 1) crops tend to have higher yields and improve yield stability (Manitoba Agriculture, n.d.). Earlier seeded crops can utilize early spring moisture more efficiently, assisting in quick and vigorous growth, which helps reduce weed competition.
  • Additionally, earlier seeded crops, depending on their flowering date, potentially avoid heat damage during flowering. More information about early seeding can be found here and here.

Figure 1: Seeding date vs. relative yield for common Manitoban crop types between 2010-2019 (MASC, 2019)

There are risks associated with early seeding these include:

  • The risk of frost. Most spring wheat and barley are tolerant to some frost (down to -6 °C) when the growing point is below the soil surface, this is until the 5-leaf – jointing stage. Frost damage symptoms include leaves that are dark green, wilted, and have dead leaf tips (Manitoba Agriculture, n.d.). Risk of frost damage and plant death increases when the growing point gets closer to the soil surface.
  • Seeding into cold and wet soils will slow crop emergence, therefore consider using a seed treatment. It should be noted that a minimum temperature of 4 °C is required for germination for wheat and barley (Manitoba Agriculture, n.d.).

Farmers know best about the typical weather conditions in their area. In addition to lived knowledge, long-term weather data can help identify the risk of frost in your area. Manitoba Agriculture produces frost maps for the province which can be found here.

Seeding Rate

 

The seeding rate of spring cereals is an important decision that can affect both yield and grain quality, by impacting all key wheat yield components. Seeding rates differ between crop types. Current Manitoba Agriculture recommendations for wheat and barley are found in table 1, below. Furthermore, when selecting target plant populations overall management practices, such as soil fertility or pest management, and field selection should be considered to handle the selected target plant population.

Table 1. Manitoba target plant populations recommendations for spring wheat and barley.

Crop

Target plant population (plant/ft2)

Spring Wheat

23-28

Barley

22-25

Manitoba Agriculture’s target plant populations were recently reevaluated in 2017 and 2018 and were found to still be adequate (Manitoba Agriculture, 2020). Yield results from the study can be found in figure 2. Plant populations also affect crop uniformity, time to maturity, lodging risk, disease risk, weed competition and overall yield stability (Manitoba Agriculture, n.d.; Collier et al., 2021). Higher seeding rates have been found to improve crop uniformity and decrease days to maturity (O’Donovan et al., 2012). Crop uniformity is also one important component to maximize the efficiency of crop protection agents, such as fungicide application for fusarium head blight. Higher seeding rates have also been found to decrease weed competition.

However, higher seeding rates may lead to thicker crop canopies, thus creating an environment more conducive to disease. As well, increased lodging, and inter-plant competition for resources can be an issue with higher seeding rates, reducing the crop yield potential. If you are planning on targeting higher plant population, it is recommended that varieties with strong straw strength or semi-dwarf varieties are used. Refer to Seed Manitoba for this information. More information about higher seeding rates, its benefits and risks can be found here.

Figure 2. Spring wheat (left) and barley (right) yields at five target plant densities from trials across Manitoba. Different letter represent statistical significant differences in yield (Manitoba Agriculture, n.d.)

Research has found that for malting barley the optimum target plant population which maximizes yield and grain quality to achieve malting grade is at the lower end of Manitoba Agriculture’s recommended target plant population (O’Donovan et al., 2012). For more information on malting barley specific seeding considerations check out this document.

Seeding by target plant population is encouraged, as seeds come in different sizes. This method accounts for differences in thousand kernel weight and per cent expected seed survival.   This method allows you to optimize your seeding rate and give you the best chance to hit your target plant population. The formula can be found below. Although, seed calculators from FP Genetics and Alberta Grains can take the manual calculations out of it. More information about seeding by plant population can be found here.

*Per cent expected survival is expressed in decimal form. ex. 85 per cent = 0.85.

References

  1. Manitoba Agriculture. (n.d.). Reward Versus Risk: Seeding Early In Manitoba. Province of Manitoba | agriculture – Reward Versus Risk: Seeding Early in Manitoba (gov.mb.ca)
  2. Manitoba Agriculture. (n.d.). Spring Frost Damage. Province of Manitoba | agriculture – Spring Frost Damage (gov.mb.ca)
  3. Manitoba Agriculture. (n.d.). Aiming for higher wheat yields. Province of Manitoba | agriculture – Aiming for Higher Wheat Yields (gov.mb.ca)
  4. Manitoba Agricultural. (2020). Seeding Rates for Spring Cereals. seeding-rates-spring-cereals.pdf (gov.mb.ca)
  5. Collier, G.R., Spaner, D.M., Graf, R.J., & Beres, B. (2021).  Optimal Agronomics Increase Grain Yield and Grain Yield Stability of Ultra-Early Wheat Seeding Systems. Agronomy. 11(2), 240. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020240
  6. O’Donovan, J.T., Turkington, T.K., Edney, M.J., Juskiw, P.E., Harker K.N., Clayton, G.W., Laford, G.P., Brandt, S., Johnson, E.N., May, W.E., & Smith, E. (2012). Effect of seeding date and seeding rate on malting barley production in western Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 92; 321-330. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjps2011-130

Research on the Farm – Wheat Seeding Rate Trial Summary

The Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) Research on the Farm (ROTF) program conducts scientific research with farmer members, using replicated strip trials on commercial fields. Farmer co-operators use their own equipment and management practices to conduct this research. Research projects are developed to investigate current and pressing agronomic questions and provide site-specific answers. More information about the ROTF program and all trial results can be found here.

As wheat genetics have improved, testing current seeding rate practices for new spring wheat varieties was necessary to understand if targeted plant stands are being optimized for yield and grain quality. The purpose of the spring wheat seeding rate trial was to quantify the agronomic and economic impacts of reducing and increasing farmers’ target plant stands compared to their normal target plant stand. This was done by increasing and decreasing seeding rates. Seeding rates ranged from 20 – 45 lbs/ac higher and lower than the farmers’ normal seeding rate (Table 1). This trial has been conducted for four growing seasons (2020 – 2023) and has 26 site-years of data. Trial sites covered numerous soil types, management practices and climatic conditions, as sites were located across agro-Manitoba.

Figure 1. Summary of spring wheat yield by seeding rate for all trial sites from 2020 – 2023. Note: Letters indicate significant differences between treatments.

Over the past four growing seasons, significant differences in plant-stand density were observed at 50 per cent of trial sites. In all cases, where a significant difference in plant-stand density was observed, the highest seeding rate had the highest plant-stand density. Although significant differences in plant-stand density were observed between treatments at 50 per cent of sites, there were only three sites where significant yield differences were observed. In each instance where a significant yield difference was observed, the low seeding rate treatment always out yielded the high seeding rate treatment (Figure 1).

Results from this trial indicate that producers have a good idea of the optimal seeding rate for their farm. Our results also suggest that during dry conditions, increasing your seeding rate does not necessarily lead to increased yield. Although, it should be noted that this data does not directly measure other variables that are impacted by seeding rates, such as crop uniformity and days to maturity. No statistical analyses were conducted on grain quality parameters.

Table 1. Economic analysis of all trial sites from 2020-2023.

Note: Seed costs are based on Manitoba Agriculture 2023 Cost of Production Guidelines ($34/ac or $17/bu). Wheat prices based on a No. 1 grade, hard red spring wheat price of $9.52/bu. Net profit calculated based on seeding costs only.

In terms of profitability, in this ROTF trial, it typically did not pencil out economically to use the high seeding rate, as there were no significant yield increases when the high seeding rate was used.

Tone Ag Consulting carries out MCA’s ROTF trials in all six of our crop-types. They assist the farmer with plot planting and harvesting, then capture key information throughout the growing season. This includes soil sampling in the spring, followed by growth stage notes and precipitation data during the growing season.

MCA-funded research at the 2023 Manitoba Agronomists’ Conference

On Dec. 13 and 14, 2023, Manitoba agronomists met to discuss the latest developments in pest, crop and soil management. This year, the conference theme was “Advanced Technologies: tools or replacements for agronomists?” Much of the research shared at the Manitoba Agronomists’ Conference was funded in part by Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA).

The following is a summary of the posters shared that featured MCA-funded research:

Soil Fertility

  • Performance of Soybean-based Rotations in Manitoba: Soil P and K
    Ramona Mohr, Yong Min Kim, Mohammad Khakbazan, Debbie McLaren (ret’d), and Byron Irvine (ret’d), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Crop Management

  • Leveraging On-Farm Research to Evaluate New Malting Barley Varieties for Production and Malting Selection in Manitoba
    Li Yueshu, Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre, Ashley Ammeter, Morgan Cott, Daryl Rex, Andrew Hector, Manitoba Crop Alliance
  • Performance of Soybean-based Rotations in Manitoba: Yield and Quality
    Ramona Mohr, Yong Min Kim, Mohammad Khakbazan, Debbie McLaren (ret’d), Byron Irvine (ret’d), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Establishment of Annual Crop-Living Mulch System
    Jessica Frey, Joanne Thiessen Martens, University of Manitoba

Pest Management

  • Performance of Soybean-based Rotations in Manitoba: Root Diseases
    Yong Min Kim, Debbie McLaren (ret’d), Ramona Mohr, Byron Irvine (ret’d), Mohammad Khakbazan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Are Intercropped Cover Crops Compatible with Canola Weed Management on the Canadian Prairies?
    Janelle Gawiak, Yvonne Lawley, University of Manitoba, Maryse Bourgault, University of Saskatchewan, Linda Gorim, University of Alberta
  • Manitoba Survey of Herbicide-resistant Weeds in 2022
    Charles Geddes, Mattea Pittman, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kim Brown-Livingston, Manitoba Agriculture, Julie Leeson, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

During the crop management session, Amy Delaquis also presented her research on Agronomic Management to Maximize Spring Wheat Yield and Protein while Minimizing Lodging Risk. Check out our factsheets that summarize this research:

For a full list of poster presentations and speakers from the 2023 conference, as well as a recording of the 2023 presentations (available February 2024), visit the Manitoba Agronomists’ Conference website.

Thank you to the conference partners – University of Manitoba, Manitoba Agriculture and the Prairie Certified Crop Advisor Board – for hosting an excellent conference!

Key findings from the Assessment of New Malting Barley Varieties for Production and Malting Selection in Manitoba final project report

Variety selection is an important consideration for farmers, as not all varieties are created equal. Varieties can differ in days to maturity, plant height, lodging risk, disease ratings, pre-harvest sprouting, grain quality factors and yield. Farmers need to evaluate variety characteristics against the risks and needs of their operation.

Taking time for variety selection is generally a simple consideration within the producer’s control that can maximize operational production and profits. However, complicating factors to consider when selecting a cereal variety is your target market, grain buyer and end-user requirements. For some cereal crops, like malting barley, the end user (maltsters and brewers) and grain buyers require barley to satisfy specific criteria.

In Manitoba, total barley acres (feed plus malting barley) have declined over the last 20 years. Due to a combination of disease concerns, market forces and difficulty to meet malting grade, producers have stayed away from barley in their rotations. According to the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation’s annual Seeded Acreage Reports from 2020-2023, total seeded barley acres have steadied, with seeded acres remaining consistent between 365,000 and 400,000 acres. Over the last few years, several new malting barley varieties have been registered for producer use in Canada and there was a need to evaluate the new varieties of malting barley in field scale trials, under Manitoba growing conditions to provide Manitoba farmers with data on how new varieties could fit in their cropping system.

The research project, Assessment of New Malting Barley Varieties for Production and Malting Selection in Manitoba was developed to address this issue. The project was a collaborative effort between the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) and Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), with support from Tone Ag Consulting, Canadian Grain Commission – Grain Research Lab and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. It was conducted to evaluate new malting barley varieties for agronomics, malt quality and brewing quality. Specific project goals are listed below:

  • Examine the performance of new malting varieties at different growing sites in Manitoba with optimized agronomic practices.
  • Investigate the barley selection rate for malting at harvest and test for barley quality and malting and brewing performance.
  • Identify the growing locations and best agronomic practices for the new malting varieties.

On-farm research trials, through MCA’s Research on the Farm (ROTF) program, were leveraged to complete this project. Producer co-operators, who are MCA members, were involved in trial establishment, treatment implementation and harvest. This research project wouldn’t have been possible without their involvement and participation.

Materials and Methods

Treatments: Two to five malting barley varieties were grown in randomized strip plots on the same field at each trial site, using crop management practices optimized based on site conditions. AAC Synergy was the check variety and was grown at each trial site. Management practices could differ between sites.

Table 1. Varieties seeded by year and the number of participating farms for each project year. Variety lodging and disease resistance data.

 

Year

Resistance*

Variety

2020

2021

2022

Lodging

LS

SBS

RR

NNB

SNB

SB

SR

FHB

AAC Synergy*

X

X

X

G

S

I

I

MR

R

R

MR

I

AAC Connect

X

X

X

G

S

R

MS

I

MR

MR

MR

MR

CDC Fraser

X

X

X

G

R

MR

MS

MR

MR

R

MR

I

CDC Copper

X

X

X

G

I

MR

MR

MR

MR

I

I

MS

AAC Goldman

X

 

 

F

MS

I

S

I

R

I

I

MR

CDC Bow

X

 

 

G

S

I

MS

S

MR

I

MR

I

CDC Churchill

 

X

X

G

MS

MR

MR

MR

I

MR

MS

AAC Prairie

 

X

X

F

S

MR

MR

I

I

MR

I

# of locations

5

5

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Check variety. LS, loose smut; SB-S, surface-borne smut; RR, root rot; NNB, netted net blotch; SNB, spotted net blotch; SB, spot blotch; SR, stem rust; FHB, Fusarium Head Blight; G, good; F, fair; S, susceptible; MS, moderately susceptible; MR, moderately resistant; R, resistant.
*Resistance data were obtained from Seed Manitoba 2023 Variety Selection and Grower Source Guide.

Variables measured: Measurements were taken throughout the entire malting barley value-chain. These included barley quality and yields, malt processing quality, malt quality and brewing quality. Specific tests are listed below:

  • Barley Quality and Quantity: yield, Deoxynivalenol (DON), protein, germination energy (GE), water sensitivity (WS), thousand kernel weight (TKW), plumpness, stirring number (SN).
  • Malt Processing Quality: malt DON, chit, steep out, acrospire length
  • Malt Quality: malt moisture, friability, fine extract, coarse extract, F/C difference, soluble protein, Kolbach, diastatic power, α-amylase, β-glucan, colour, viscosity, Free Amino Nitrogen (FAN).
  • Brew Quality: overnight apparent extract, overnight alcohol by volume, conversion time, attenuated limit, wort maltotriose, wort maltrose, wort glucose, wort fructose.

Select Results

Figure 1. Top: Mean malting barley yield (bars) and protein data (line) from the 2020-2022 growing seasons. Bottom: Mean malting barley germination (bars) and plumpness data (line) mean values from the 2020-2022 growing seasons.

Figure 2. Top: Mean β-glucan values averaged from 2020-2022 project years and sites. Bottom: Mean DON levels averaged from 2020-2022 project years and sites.

Key Points

  • All new malting barley varieties demonstrated the ability to make malting grade under optimum crop management strategies and a variety of weather conditions. All varieties yielded well, with values ranging between 81-104 bu/ac when averaged across all project years and sites.
  • CDC Copper did not meet GE thresholds of 95 per cent when data was averaged across all sites and project years. CDC Copper did meet GE thresholds at individual site-years.
  • 2021 had the highest malting barley selection rate, with 91 per cent of samples selected. 2022 had the lowest selection rate, with only 62.5 per cent of samples selected.
  • No significant differences in DON levels were found between varieties when averaged across all project years and sites (Figure 2).
  • No significant differences in yield were found between varieties when data was averaged across all project years and sites. Although, yield differences were found at individual trial sites.
  • CDC Copper and AAC Goldman were both found to have water sensitivity values above desirable levels (data not shown). Water sensitivity indicates the percentage of kernels that will “drown” if over-steeped in the malting process.
  • No significant differences were found between varieties for malt processing and quality parameters, such β-glucan (Figure 2.)
  • Variety did not impact the brewing process or beer quality, with no significant differences found in beer quality indicators when data was averaged across sites and project year (data not shown).

More detailed data on sites and growing seasons can be found in the full project report. More information on individual sites and the MCA’s ROTF program can be found here. Use the annual Seed Manitoba Variety Selection and Grower Source Guide when selecting varieties. Finally, consult grain buyers to determine if there are opportunities to market malting varieties.

Funding for this project was from CAP Ag action Manitoba and MCA. This document is a synopsis of the key results and findings from the Assessment of New Malting Barley Varieties for Production and Malting Selection in Manitoba full project report, assembled by the CMBTC.

The value and importance of seed testing

If you are planning on saving seed for next year’s crop, seed testing should be considered, as weather conditions from the year the seed was grown, such as precipitation and heat, affect seed quality. Seed testing in the fall can provide growers with useful information that can save them both time and money – allowing them to plan for next year’s growing season with greater certainty.

Typically, seed tests evaluate variables such as germination, thousand kernel weight, vigour and seed-borne diseases. Understanding these variables is important when making seeding management decisions, as seeds with poor germination and vigour or those that contain seed diseases can negatively impact crop establishment, uniformity and health. This will ultimately affect yield.

Information collected from seed tests is also integral to achieving your desired plant population, as thousand kernel weight should be used to determine optimal seeding rates. Additionally, understanding seed germination and vigour can give you a better gauge of expected seed survival and how the seed will perform in the spring.

Germination tests evaluate the percentage of seeds likely to develop or germinate under optimal moisture, light and temperature conditions. Vigour tests are similar but provide information regarding the ability for seeds to produce normal seedings in suboptimal conditions. Cold stress tests are often used to determine this, although there are multiple vigour testing protocols used by labs. Vigour testing is important, as seed vigour usually drops before the seeds ability to germinate does. More information about calculating seeding rates can be found here.

It’s important to note that long periods of storage can affect seed quality. For example, both germination and vigour levels can decrease during winter storage. Therefore, secondary seed testing in early spring may also be necessary. More information about seed testing and seed test interpretation can be found here.

The following labs conduct seed testing:

 

Most seeded winter wheat varieties in Manitoba – 2023

The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) has released its 2023 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 2023 report can be found here. Furthermore, 2023 results from the winter wheat sites of the Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Trials (MCVET) have been published. Results 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 Take Aways

A small number of Winter Wheat acres were seeded again in 2023, with approximately 59 thousand acres seeded. This is up slightly from 2022 and up over 20 thousand acres from 2021. The top six varieties by percentage acres seeded are listed in Table 1, but 12 varieties were listed in this year’s MASC Variety Market Share Report. All top six seeded varieties are Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat.

Table 1. 2023 top six winter wheat varieties by percent seeded acres in Manitoba.

Variety

Wheat Class

Yield (bu/ac)**

Relative Maturity**

Lodging**

Relative Winter Hardiness**

FHB Resistance**

Relative Acreage (%)*

AAC Wildfire

CWRW

89

Late

Good

Very Good

Moderately Resistant

 

43.2

Emerson

CWRW

83

Medium

Very Good

 

Good

Resistant

22.2

AAC Goldrush

 

CWRW

82

Medium

Good

Very Good

Intermediate

12.5

AAC Gateway

 

CWRW

82

Medium

Very Good

Fair

Intermediate

5.8

AAC Elevate

 

CWRW

81

Medium

Very Good

Good

Intermediate

5.2

AAC Vortex

CWRW

87

Medium

Very Good

Very Good

Moderately Resistant

4.4

Note: * Data obtained from MASC 2023 Variety Market Share Report. ** Data obtained from the 2023 MCVET Winter Wheat and Fall Rye report. Fusarium Head Blight; FHB.

AAC Wildfire was the top seeded winter wheat variety, occupying 43.2 per cent of seeded winter wheat acres. This is an increase of just over 14 per cent from 2022. AAC Wildfire was registered in 2015 and is a late maturing CWRW variety. AAC Goldrush, which was registered in 2016, also increased in percentage of acres seeded, increasing by three per cent from 2022. AAC Vortex, which was registered in 2021, was seeded on over four per cent of acres in 2023. There were no reported acres of AAC Vortex in the 2022 MASC Variety Market Share Report.

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 dropped just over 14 per cent from 2022. A similar trend was seen in AAC Gateway, which dropped from 16.1 per cent in 2022, to just over five per cent in 2023. AAC Elevate remained steady from 2022 to 2023, at just over five per cent of seeded acres.

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

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