A long-time favourite variety of Manitoba wheat growers continues to decline in popularity.

The Canadian Wheat Board has released the results of its 2010 Variety Survey .

AC Barrie, which in the early 2000s accounted for over half of the spring wheat acres in Manitoba, was the fourth most popular variety this year, accounting for only 10 percent of red spring acres in the province.

"Barrie had been hanging on in Manitoba because growers were waiting for new varieties that had proper disease resistance. Now that there are some options out there, we are seeing Barrie decline," says Mike Grenier, agronomist with the Canadian Wheat Board.

AC Kane, at 25.3 percent, was the most popular CWRS variety. The North Dakota-bred variety Glenn and AC Harvest were also in the top three.

The winter wheat category continues to be dominated by CDC Falcon, which accounted for over 75 percent of winter wheat acres. "Not much change in the winter wheat side. Falcon is still the dominant variety, by far," says Grenier.

Newdale and AC Metcalfe were at the top of the list for two-row malting barley varieties. Legacy was the most popular six-row variety.


Highlights of the 2010 CWB Variety Survey for Manitoba:

CWRS Wheat
1. AC Kane    25.3%
2. Glenn    15.8%
3. AC Harvest    15.3%
4. AC Barrie    10.3%
5. AC Domain    8.7%

CWRW Wheat
1. CDC Falcon    75.1%
2. CDC Buteo    20.7%
3. McClintock    1.9%

2 Row Malt Barley
1. Newdale     42.3%
2. AC Metcalfe    36.1%
3. CDC Copeland 16.3%

6 Row Malt Barley
1. Legacy    36%
2. Tradition    30.9%
3. Stellar-ND    16.9%

2 Row Feed Barley
1. Conlon    67.6%
2. CDC Cowboy    4.3%

6 Row Feed Barley
1. AC Ranger    37.4%
2. Sundre    27.2%

~ Monday, October 25, 2010 ~