By Charlene Tebbutt

Wheat still a good bet for farmers

Mar 18, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Wheat still fills a lot of acres in Saskatchewan, and having the right information about wheat varieties can help farmers determine the best types to grow and produce.

Jim Downey, research and development manager with SeCan, said wheat is still a good bet for farmers as the 2018 growing season gets underway. Downey spoke on the topic in Tisdale this week at the Think Wheat extension meeting for north central and northeast Saskatchewan farmers, hosted by the Sask Wheat Development Commission.

Downey said the AAC Brandon variety of wheat can be a good option for farmers in the northeast area. The AAC Brandon variety is a Canada semi-dwarf wheat, and features a short, strong straw. The variety has good thresher ability and a moderate resistance rating for fusarium head blight.

“It’s the number-one wheat on the prairies, as far as acres go, for quite a few reasons,” Downey said. “It really brought together a lot of key traits and it’s really produced some really nice yields.”

The key to determining what to plant each spring for good harvestability, Downey said, is considering both yield potential and the specific traits of each plant variety. Good lodging and sprouting resistance is also important, he added.

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“There are some good new lines coming along that are an improvement,” Downey said, pointing to the AAC Alida variety for example.

Downey said the Saskatchewan Seed Guide is a great resource for farmers, with good information on all wheat varieties and new ones entering the market.

–With files from Clark Stork

charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt