While lists of new corn, canola and soybean varieties have been very long, there are only a handful of new cereal varieties on the market for 2017.

Canterra

Spring wheat:
AAC Cameron VB is a very high yielding CWRS wheat with resistance to the orange blossom wheat midge. It has medium maturity and very good lodging resistance. AAC Cameron VB is rated MR to stem and leaf rust and has improved FHB resistance.

AAC Concord is a solid stem milling wheat in the CNHR class that boasts significant yield and disease improvements over other solid stem varieties. It is 20 per cent higher yielding than Lillian and has stronger FHB resistance. AAC Concord is rated R to stripe, stem and leaf rust, and MR to FHB.

Barley:
Canmore barley is a two-row general purpose barley with very good yields at 102 per cent of Xena and greatly improved lodging resistance. Canmore has applications for the feed market, as well as the developing shochu market (shochu is a Japanese wheat-based alcohol). The variety also has higher percentage plumps and test weight, and an MR rating to scald.

CPS/Proven Seed

Durum:
CDC Carbide is the first midge tolerant durum wheat variety from Proven Seed. It is mid-maturity with improved yield and agronomics over the existing midge tolerant durum, and is notable for holding its colour and quality. CDC Carbide has an excellent disease package, including resistance to stem, leaf and stripe rust. Available only at CPS retails.

SeCan

Spring wheat:

AAC Jatharia VB, the first release from Dr. Santosh Kumar — the new CWRS breeder with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Brandon. AAC Jatharia VB is a midge tolerant CWRS that is seen as a replacement for AC Unity VB. AAC Jatharia VB has stronger straw and incorporates AC Carberry as a refuge for additional straw strength. On average AAC Jatharia VB outyields AC Carberry by seven per cent, has good sprouting resistance and an intermediate “Fair” rating to FHB.

CDC Bradwell, developed by the Crop Development Centre is a new CWRS with strong straw and intermediate “Fair” rating to FHB. The variety shows reduced damage from wheat midge due to “egg laying deterrence.”

AAC Spitfire is seen as a replacement for AC Strongfield. AAC Spitfire offers yield of 110 per cent of AC Strongfield with shorter, stronger straw than AC Strongfield.

SeedNet Cereals

Rye:

Guttino is a recently released hybrid fall rye developed by KWS. Guttino has short strong straw that makes it very suitable for irrigation or high moisture conditions. This variety has excellent grain quality with good falling numbers that hold up even under difficult conditions. Guttino has very strong winter survivability and will out-yield traditional rye varieties by 20 to 30 per cent. Available from SeedNet members fall 2016.

AAC Chiffon Soft Wheat is a new high yielding cultivar developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lethbridge. Evaluated for four years in the Western Soft White Spring Wheat Registration Trials (2008 to 2011), AAC Chiffon yielded more grain than the other check varieties including Sadash and AC Andrew. AAC Chiffon has a high kernel weight and is slightly taller than AC Andrew or Sadash. AAC Chiffon has very good milling properties and is also a good fit for ethanol or silage markets. Available from SeedNet members and dealers fall 2016.

Syngenta

Spring wheat:
SY Rowyn is a high-yielding, medium-maturity Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat with good milling quality, short strong straw with good lodging resistance, and an excellent disease package. It is available through Alliance Seed. For more information, contact the Syngenta Customer Resource Centre at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682).

SY479 VB is the first midge-tolerant Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat variety that also delivers strong yield potential from Syngenta Canada. SY479 VB has intermediate resistance to FHB and also contains midge tolerance making it an excellent choice for growers managing these pests. It is available for purchase through Alliance Seed. For more information, contact the Syngenta Customer Resource Centre at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682).

Special wheat:
SY087 is a high-yielding, medium-maturity Special Purpose (SP) wheat with a best-in-class disease package and the top yield potential in its maturity class, particularly in darker soils. It is available for purchase through United Suppliers Canada. For more information, please contact the Syngenta Customer Resource Center at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682).