Durum Varieties

[oldjim]

Durum varieties was touched on in the $25 durum thread but I thought I'd start a new topic about what's good and bad these days. I've had Precision for the last two or three years and it hasn't impressed me that much. Any varieties that fare better with sawflies, or that consistently have better grades?

[bigzee]

I grew Precision few yrs ago, never again is all I will say. Now grow Alloy, extremely happy with it. It has Brigade and Strongfield in it. Yields exceptionally well, nice protein and keeps its color. It can grow straw because of the Brigade side of it, but yields like Brigade.

[biglentil]

I grew Precision few yrs ago, never again is all I will say. Now grow Alloy, extremely happy with it. It has Brigade and Strongfield in it. Yields exceptionally well, nice protein and keeps its color. It can grow straw because of the Brigade side of it, but yields like Brigade.

Alloy was 2 grades worse than transcend taken off under the same conditions. Yield same.

[helmsdale]

Currently grow Stronghold, and last year really liked it. For our area, sawfly resistance is a MUST, and by and large it stood quite well. At least as well as the old Eatonia or Lillian wheat we used to grow. There'd be the odd one that went down, but it seemed to do well. Test weight was about 2.5lbs higher than the Verona I had been growing before, and yield was maybe 3-5% more, but that may have had more to do with the sawfly resistance than anything? We'll see how well it holds color and weight as it has been sitting at 20% moisture for about a week now with wetter weather.

Not particularly impressed with its sawfly resistance this year... Neighbor has Raymore, and it seems to have stood quite well, but was also in about 10 days ahead of our first stuff, and 14 before the stuff we have beside it that is really taking it on the chin sawfly wise.

Perhaps this year is just that terrible for sawfly, that 15-20% down compared to the neighbors Viewfield CWRS at ~75+% is considered good enough? Im still going to have to put fingers on to chase it if its going to be worth $20... I hate using the combine as a gravel-crusher!

Also remember reading somewhere, but can't seem to find it anymore, that the "low cadmium straw" that is inherent to sawfly resistance is manipulated by hot and dry conditions? Hotter and dryer at the wrong stage of development means higher cadmium levels, which means lesser sawfly resistance? Possibly the reason why neighbors Raymore is standing better than our Stronghold? It got hot and dry at the wrong time for ours, and a better time for the Raymore? Anyone else seeing something similar?

[newguy]

Precision and alloy came out similar timing.People that grew both say alloy is the standout.Yield weight and colour retention.Transcend not even in the same league.

[bigzee]

Alloy was 2 grades worse than transcend taken off under the same conditions. Yield same.

Every area is different, but find it hard to believe Transcend will keep up with Alloy. I know guys around me that grow Transcend and their yields are not like my Alloy. Maybe it’s fert who knows.

One thing I will say is my Brandon wheat has out yielded the Alloy for two straight yrs.

This I grew Viewfield in the same field as Alloy ... looking forward to the test. No Brandon this yr.

[biglentil]

Every area is different, but find it hard to believe Transcend will keep up with Alloy. I know guys around me that grow Transcend and their yields are not like my Alloy. Maybe it’s fert who knows.

One thing I will say is my Brandon wheat has out yielded the Alloy for two straight yrs.

This I grew Viewfield in the same field as Alloy ... looking forward to the test. No Brandon this yr.

May need to try Alloy again.

[LEP]

Every area is different, but find it hard to believe Transcend will keep up with Alloy. I know guys around me that grow Transcend and their yields are not like my Alloy. Maybe it’s fert who knows.

One thing I will say is my Brandon wheat has out yielded the Alloy for two straight yrs.

This I grew Viewfield in the same field as Alloy ... looking forward to the test. No Brandon this yr.

Interesting. We grew Brandon in 2019 and 2020. Both times 10 plus % less yield than Spitfire.