The choices that producers make in hard red spring wheat variety selection play a key role in setting the base of quality that customers receive from the annual production. While it is not the only variable, and the degree of importance will vary from year to year due to environmental impacts, maintaining the genetic base to deliver premium functional quality performance to our customers should always be a goal. Wheat producers in the hard red spring wheat region have always known that there is a high quality standard for their class of wheat, as multiple factors are analyzed upon delivery and some years there can be wide price spreads for kernel quality parameters such as protein, test weight, damage, falling number, etc. The premiums are often lower than the potential discounts at the point of pricing, but that is in part due to the base premium that HRS generally receives as a class of wheat, due to it’s traditional milling and baking qualities.
To assist producers in helping select varieties with higher end-use quality performance for key customer traits, the North Dakota Wheat Commission developed a brochure that compares HRS varieties across similar years and growing environments, and categorizes them based on how they performed in laboratory quality evaluations. The varieties are grouped into three categories ranging from good to excellent quality, average to good quality and those that typically fall below the established quality standards for the HRS class.
Customers pay a premium because of the higher protein content and other typically high kernel quality parameters, which are easily measured in the market channel. But the larger reason is due to the reputation the class has for the functional quality it brings to the mill and bakery - things such as strong dough parameters, high water absorption and excellent bake volumes and quality. These factors are not easily measured at points of sale, and not always tied to protein content or kernel attributes. They are an inherent part of the DNA in a variety, and these functional quality attributes do vary by variety.
The brochure found here is available on our website, with greater discussion and description of the quality evaluation. Hard copies were also distributed to county extension offices, elevators and seed handlers in the state. Producers are encouraged to reference the brochure as they make variety selections. While a number of decisions may have already been made for this planting season, we encourage producers to incorporate the end-use quality attributes of varieties where possible. A variety needs to perform well agronomically to be profitable for growers, but where two varieties are similar for agronomic attributes, producers should choose the one with higher end-use quality ratings. Our reputation for quality, which brings premium prices in the world and U.S. market and repeat business, is directly linked to producing those varieties which have the inherent genetic potential to meet or exceed customer demands. Please contact the North Dakota Wheat Commission with any questions or for additional information about the brochure.
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