UNL CropWatch Aug. 24, 2010: Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour Among UNL Tools to Aid in Seed Selection

UNL CropWatch Aug. 24, 2010: Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour Among UNL Tools to Aid in Seed Selection

August 24, 2010

The 2009-2010 winter wheat season was a wild ride, but now that the grain is in the bin, it is time to start planning for the 2010-2011 season. Whatever the coming season has in store, one of the most critical decisions a wheat grower will make is the choice of wheat varieties to grow on their farm. One resource they may want to use for this decision is the Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour.

Virtual Wheat Tour Sample Web page

If you missed one of this year's wheat variety tours, you can still get objective, research-based information on how varieties performed. The 2010 Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour offers you the opportunity to view varieties and learn about their key characteristics 24/7. It is part of the Wheat section of CropWatch.

Virtual tourists can see a list of wheat varieties recommended for their part of the state, read about a variety's characteristics, and compare those characteristics to other varieties of interest. Tourists also can see how different varieties performed in nearby wheat variety trials and locate a certified seed dealer that carries the varieties they are most interested in purchasing.

Wheat variety recommendations are based on three-year average yield data and specialists' experience with the varieties in their regions of the state. Given the highly variable climate of Nebraska, we do not advise growers to make variety selections based on just one or two years of test results.

A link to the Winter Wheat Variety Selection Tool is located on the front page of the Virtual Tour. This tool allows growers to narrow their search for a new wheat variety. Growers are asked seven questions that help identify variety characteristics that are important to them. The tool then queries a database to identify those varieties that meet the selected criteria.

The Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour site is updated each year in early August with the results from the latest statewide variety testing program. This ensures that growers have access to the most current information on winter wheat varieties when making their seed purchasing decisions.

The selection of adapted and complimentary varieties is one of the most important decisions a wheat grower will make for this season. Make a more informed decision by visiting the Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour.

Additional on-line information on wheat varieties can be found at the UNL Variety Testing Page.

Drew Lyon
Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist, Panhandle REC, Scottsbluff

 

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UNL Extension Dryland Crops Specialist Drew Lyon discusses the risks of planting wheat into wheat stubble on this week's Market Journal.

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