Albion
Released 1998 and originated by Cenex - Wheeler. No information on
irrigated performance in southern Idaho trials. WSU reports characteristics as awned
with white glumes, excellent winter hardiness, and stiff straw. WSU evaluated
in their Cooperative Extension variety performance trials but no irrigated data was
available..
Brundage
Released by Idaho AES, USDA-ARS in 1997. It is shorter and earlier heading than
Stephens and has excellent straw strength and lodging resistance. It is awnless.
Brundage has exceeded Stephens in yield and has lower protein percentage under
favorable conditions. Brundage is more sensitive to early spring
moisture stress than Stephens. It is better adapted to early
fall than late fall plantings. Brundage has excellent test weight, 2-3 lb/bu higher
than Stephens, Malcolm and MacVicar. Brundage appears to have excellent soft wheat
quality.
Eltan
An awned, semidwarf variety released by Washington AES, USDA-ARS in 1990 primarily for
dryland production. Eltan was designed to replace Sprague. Eltan has intermediate height,
is taller than Sprague but has stronger straw. Eltan is later in heading than Sprague and
has better winter-hardiness. Eltan is moderately resistant to dwarf bunt and has good
tolerance to snow mold. It is moderately resistant to stripe rust. Yields have been better
than Sprague in higher yielding environments. Protein content is about 1% lower than
Sprague and flour yield is slightly higher. Cookie quality is not as good as Sprague. Test
weights of Eltan are lower than most varieties, frequently below 58 lb/bu.
Foote
Released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in 1998. This variety is better adapted to western Oregon
and will likely not become popular in Idaho. Yield in Idaho is not as good as most other
available varieties. It is also taller than Malcolm and Stephens and has slightly weaker
straw. Foote does have advantages in areas where Septoria tritici is a major
limiting production factor. It has Strawbreaker foot rot resistence from which the
name is derived.
Hubbard (ID86-10420A)
A UI release from the Moscow program. This is a high yielding line for northern
Idaho. It is taller than Stephens which will limit it's adaptability to wheel line
and hand moved sprinklers. It has excellent straw strength so could be grown under
furrow irrigation with only moderate lodging potential. It's higher cutting height
may enable more straw to be recovered.
Kmor
A white-chaffed, awned, semidwarf variety released by Washington AES, USDA-ARS in 1990.
Winter hardiness is not as good as Eltan. Kmor is shorter than Eltan and Sprague, with
straw strength better than Sprague and similar to Eltan. Kmor is moderately late in
heading. Kmor is moderately susceptible to dwarf bunt, Cephalosporium stripe, and
strawbreaker foot rot. It is resistant to stripe rust and moderately susceptible to snow
mold. Kmor should not be grown in areas where the threat of snow mold is high. Grain test
weight is less than Sprague or Eltan and protein is higher than Eltan but slightly less
than Sprague. Milling yield for Kmor is greater than Sprague and similar to Eltan. Cookie
quality is similar to Sprague and Eltan.
Lambert
A white-chaffed, awned, semidwarf variety released by Idaho AES, USDA-ARS in 1993. Lambert
is an early maturing variety with above average height. It is primarily intended for use
in northern Idaho. Lambert can be grown under irrigation but plant height may prevent use
with wheel lines. In southern Idaho dryland trials, Lambert yields have been higher than
Sprague and Eltan in a limited number of trials. Lambert is resistant to stripe rust and
has some tolerance to Cephalosporium stripe. Lambert is susceptible to dwarf bunt and has
moderate tolerance to snow mold. It should not be used where dwarf bunt is prevalent.
Protein content of Lambert is equal to Stephens and higher than Kmor and Eltan. Milling
and baking quality is considered excellent.
MacVicar
A white chaffed, awned, semidwarf variety released by the Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in 1992.
MacVicar has good lodging resistance and is a similar type as Stephens. Yields are better
in SW Idaho, similar in SC Idaho, and less in SE Idaho. Test weight is less than Stephens
while height is taller and straw strength is not as good. Protein content for MacVicar is
generally lower than Stephens. Moderate resistance to stripe rust and moderate
susceptibility to leaf rust.
Madsen
An awned, semidwarf variety released by Washington AES, USDA-ARS in 1988. Madsen has good
yield potential and good straw strength. Madsen is the first US variety released with
resistance to strawbreaker foot rot. Madsen is resistant to common bunt, leaf, stem, and
stripe rust along with powdery mildew. Winter hardiness is not as good as Eltan but is
better than Sprague.
Malcolm
A white-chaffed, awned, semidwarf, high-yielding variety released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS
in 1987. It has had superior yields to those of Stephens and other common varieties when
early to mid fall planted in the Treasure Valley. Malcolm's resistance to Cephalosporium
stripe and Septoria is similar to that of Stephens. Winter hardiness is fair,
similar to Stephens. Protein is lower than Stephens. Test weight is
similar to Stephens and Malcolm is slightly taller but lodging resistance is very good
like Stephens.
Quantum 7817
Soft white winter wheat hybrid released by Hybritech, Seeds Int’l in 1997.
This hybrid was evaluated in U of I trials for the first time in 1997. Yields are good but
not outstanding and test weight tends to be a bit lower than comparable varieties.
Height is about 2 inches taller than average and heading date is about 2 days
later than Stephens or Malcolm. Because this is a true hybrid, harvested grain should not
be used for seed.
Sprague
A white-gray chaffed, awned, semidwarf variety released by Washington AES, USDA-ARS in
1973. It is noted as the best variety to plant where snow mold is a problem. Sprague
averages about 4 inches shorter than Manning and Promontory and 8 inches shorter than
Weston. It is intermediate in maturity and has moderately weak straw. Sprague has very
good tolerance to snow mold and common bunt but is moderately susceptible to dwarf bunt.
It is susceptible to stripe and stem rust and moderately susceptible to leaf rust. It is
currently the most popular soft white variety on dryland in southeastern Idaho. Winter
hardiness of Sprague is less than that of hard red varieties. Sprague must be seeded early
to develop full tolerance to snow mold.
Stephens
A white-chaffed, semidwarf, widely adapted variety released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in
1977. Stephens dominated the Pacific Northwest during the 1980's and continues to be the
most commonly grown wheat in the Treasure Valley where Cephalosporium Stripe and
Septoria do not limit production. Stephens is high-yielding and has an average level of
winter hardiness. It is especially adapted in the Treasure Valley when late planted
in November following beets or potatoes. It is very resistant to lodging, stripe rust,
leaf rust, and smut. It is susceptible to dwarf smut (TCK), flag smut, snow mold, Cephalosporium
stripe, and Septoria tritici. In areas where winter hardiness and Cephalosporium
tolerance are important, it is recommended to not grow large acreages of Stephens.
Varieties with better winter hardiness and Cephalosporium tolerance should be used
in these areas. Milling/baking quality of Stephens is very good.
Stephens is relatively early but not as early as Brundage.
Temple
This soft white winter club wheat variety was released by Oregon AES, USDA in 1998. Temple
is best adapted to relatively dry environments of Eastern Oregon. It is taller than most
soft white varieties and has weaker straw that limits its adaptation to irrigation. Yields
in Idaho have been less than most common soft white varieties. It will likely be produced
in southern Idaho only if produced for specific markets under contract. It is resistant to
stripe rust and Strawbreaker foot rot.
W-301
A stiff straw, medium height variety released by the Oregon AES, USDA in 1972. Yield and
most other characteristics appear to be similar to MacVicar and Stephens except that W-301
has a lower straw strength than Stephens. W-301 was intended for use in high
elevation/heavy snow areas. It has excellent winter hardiness and good tolerance to snow
mold. W-301 is resistant to stripe rust and moderately resistant to leaf rust. W-301 has
good baking/milling quality.
Weatherford
Released by Oregon AES, USDA in 1998. It is resistant to stripe rust, foot rot, and
common bunt. It is moderately resistant to leaf rust and moderately susceptible to
dwarf bunt and Cephalosporium Stripe. Heading date is similar to Madsen and later than
Stephens. Height is taller than most common soft white varieties and winterhardiness is
similar to Stephens. Yields in southern Idaho have been similar to Malcolm and slightly
better than Stephens.
Westbred 470
Released by Western Plant Breeders in 1997. Yields have been somewhat variable but over
all locations tested in U of I trials, they've only been near the average of the trials.
Test weight is very high, plant height is shorter, and date head is earlier than Stephens.
Straw strength appears to be good.
Brundage 96 (ID-B-96)
A Brundage re-selection from the Idaho Moscow program of Bob Zemetra.
It has improved stripe rust resistance as compared to Brundage. Like Brundage
it is also an awnless, short semi-dwarf with superior end use quality. It has good
winterhardiness and matures similar to Stephens. Test weight is poorer than Brundage
and less even than Stephens. Brundage 96 together with Brundage is apparently less
tolerable of moisture stress than Stephens. It is lower yielding than Stephens.
OR939526
An OSU advanced line with a disease profile similar to Madsen but with
productivity matching Stephens. Good lodging resistance. Milling and baking
quality similar to Stephens.