Q: What should I consider when I’m choosing a new variety?
A: When choosing a new variety with a grower, I look at many factors including maturities, past crop rotations, herbicides used and specific weed issues as well as any disease or insect concerns the grower may have in their fields. And, of course, how were their yields this year compared with their neighbours?
I am a strong believer in growing at least two, and sometimes more, varieties of the same crop with different maturities. For most crops, we have options of early, mid- and late maturing varieties. By choosing multiple maturities on your farm, you are trying to hedge against Mother Nature. Early season maturities allow for earlier harvest. Later maturing varieties usually have higher yield potential, but will they mature in time for your growing zone?
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By looking at the past rotation and herbicides used, we can see if there are any residual concerns for next year’s crop. When it comes to weed issues, my first question is what herbicide-resistant weeds do you have on the farm? Most producers are dealing with resistant weeds like kochia, chickweed, green smartweed, wild oats and redroot pigweed.
In terms of disease, discussion time will be spent on leaf disease ratings and fusarium head blight ratings for cereals. For canola, we will spend time discussing blackleg, clubroot and sclerotinia ratings. Another important canola attribute will be harvest management designation. With corn, the disease discussion will be around Goss’s wilt ratings, stalk strength and green snap ratings.
Regarding insects, time will be spent on flea beetle and cutworm options with a grower’s canola seed treatment. An important insect we forget about with our hard red spring wheat choices is midge and whether the variety has midge tolerance built in. With the phase-out of Lorsban insecticide since 2020, we are very limited in insecticide options for midge control. It’s important to consider, “Are you in a typical midge area? Are you at risk?”
There are many agronomic components to consider when choosing the right varieties for your farm as listed above. I consider these factors on my own farm when choosing varieties. When considering new genetics, try them on limited acres to see them perform under your own management systems.
