WHEAT Varieties for the Western United States

Several new wheat varieties, introduced or developed through breeding by the United States Department of Agriculture in cooperation with State experiment stations, have been distributed in the Western States. Some of these already have achieved commercial importance and others may soon.  The more important ones are described and discussed briefly under the commercial classes to which they belong.

The Kota variety was introduced from Russia and developed concurrently by the United States Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. It is a bearded, white-glumed variety which is resistant to black stem rust. It also is fairly resistant to drought and outyields Marquis in North Dakota and adjacent portions of neighboring States where it now occupies about 1,000,000 acres.

Reliance is a spring variety produced from a Marquis-Kanred cross in cooperative experiments between the Department of Agriculture and the Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota experiment stations. It is a bearded, white-glumed variety, maturing about one day later than Marquis. It is a vigorous, frost-resistant, and high-yielding variety. While it has the resistance of Kanred to stem rust it is not as resistant as Kota. Small samples of seed were first distributed for commercial growing from the Northern Great Plains Field Station, Mandan, N. Dak., in the spring of 1926.  It should be best adapted to the western portions of the Dakotas and in Montana.

Nodak is a pure-line selection from Kubanka developed at the Dickinson substation, Dickinson, N. Dak., in cooperative experiments between the United States Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota Experiment Station. It is similar to Kubanka except for being more resistant to stem rust and a higher yielder. Seed was first distributed for commercial growing from the Dickinson substation in 1923, and it is estimated that about 5,000 acres were grown in 1926.  It appears best adapted to central North Dakota where stem rust is prevalent.

Mondak is a different selection from Kubanka but developed similarly. Mondak is not resistant to stem rust but yields best in Montana and in western North Dakota where stem rust does not occur. Mondak differs from Kubanka and Nodak only in being slightly later and taller, and having better quality of grain for the manufacture of macaroni. Seed was first distributed from the Dickinson substation in 1923 and from the Judith Basin substation, Moccasin, Mont., in 1926.

Akrona is a selection from Arnautka developed at the Akron Field Station, Akron, Colo., by the United States Department of Agriculture. It is an early, high-yielding amber durum and of excellent quality for the manufacture of macaroni. Seed was first distributed from the Akron Field Station, Akron, Colo., in 1925. It appears best adapted to northeastern Colorado and adjacent sections of neighboring States.

Karmont is a hardy, high-yielding selection of Kharkof developed at the Judith Basin substation in cooperative experiments between the United States Department of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. It is slightly hardier than Kharkof and yields best in the higher and drier sections of Montana. Seed was first distributed from the Moccasin substation in 1922, and it is estimated that about 350,000 acres were grown in 1926.

Newturk is an awnless hard red winter wheat developed from a Newton-Turkey cross in cooperative experiments between the United States Department of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station at the Judith Basin substation. It is as hardy and as high yielding as Kharkof or Karmont in Montana, and of equal quality. Seed was first distributed for commercial growing in the fall of 1926.

Regal is a smut-resistant selection of Turkey developed in cooperative experiments between the United States Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station at the Sherman County branch station, Moro, Oreg. The Regal variety may be distinguished from other hard red winter wheats by its purple stems. Seed of the Regal was first distributed from the Moro Station in the fall of 1926.

Federation was introduced into the United States in 1914 by the United States Department of Agriculture. It originated from a cross made by William Farrer, of New South Wales, Australia, and became the leading wheat variety of Australia. After being tested in the Pacific Coast States for several years, it was distributed to farmers in Oregon in the spring of 1920 from the Sherman County substation, and later in Idaho from the Aberdeen Field Station, Aberdeen, Idaho. About 450,000 acres of Federation were grown in 1925. It is an awnless, brown-glumed, soft-kerneled spring wheat, but is grown from fall seeding in mild climates.  It is especially well adapted for growing under irrigation and on rich heavy soils.

Hard Federation was selected from Federation about 1908 by J. T. Pridham, at the Cowra Experiment Station, in New South Wales, Australia. It was introduced by the Department of Agriculture in 1915 and was first distributed in 1920 to farmers of Oregon and California from experiment stations at Moro, Oreg., and Chico, Calif. It is estimated that about 100,000 acres of Hard Federation were grown in 1925. It is a short, early, awnless, brown-glumed, hard white wheat, best adapted to the higher and drier sections of California, Oregon, and Montana.

Onas was introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture from Tulsa, Saddleworth, South Australia. It was developed through hybridization by F. Coleman, Federation being one parent. The value of this wheat for California conditions was determined in cooperative: experiments by the department and the California Agricultural Experiment Station. Seed was distributed from the Davis Experiment Station, Davis, Calif., in 1923. It is a high-yielding, awnless, white-glumed, spring variety, best adapted to the low-lying good wheat lands of California.

Of the new varieties listed above five already have proved extremely valuable to wheat-growing farmers. These are Kota, Federation, Hard Federation, Karmont, and Nodak. Their total estimated area in 1926 was 1,855,000 acres, and the total estimated increase in value from growing them was $5,525,000.