Oklahoma State University has released four new wheat varieties: Baker’s Ann, Skydance, Showdown and Green Hammer.
“Baker’s Ann is the combination of good agronomics and quality,” Brett Carver, OSU Regents Professor and wheat breeder, said. “It’s the exceptional level of quality that brought this variety forward and I think will bring it a lot of attention. This is the variety that answers the need for an exceptional level of milling and baking quality in the domestic and international marketplaces.”
Carver said in comparison to Baker’s Ann, Skydance is well-suited to bread and tortilla production.
“That’s a tough combination to come up with,” he said. “We don’t have anything lined up for it but I think that opportunity will exist [in the future]. I just know that we need to have it available in our genetic lineup. Skydance stands out for its ability to market for tortilla quality.”
Another variety that stands out is Showdown. Carver said it produces high grain yields across Oklahoma.
“Showdown has a lot of reach, a wide reach in terms of its adaptation. It’s similar to [wheat variety] Bentley in reach and yielding ability.”
That same yielding ability can be found in Green Hammer, along with good protein content and test weight.
“That’s a package that doesn’t exist routinely,” Carver said. “We want high test weights and relatively high protein levels.”
More information about the four new wheat varieties can be found on the OSU website news.okstate.edu/articles/agricultural-sciences-natural-resources/2018/18_wheat_varieties_released.html.
Wheat Squared is sponsored by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma Genetics, Inc.
