06/19/08 A Clearfield Eltan

Farm and Ranch June 19, 2008 Oregon State University is putting out its third wheat variety with resistance to BASF's Beyond herbicide. OSU wheat breeder Jim Peterson says ORCF-103 is a Clearfield Eltan. Peterson: "Eltan being the number one winter wheat variety in the state of Washington for a number of years. And we wanted to put this one together to provide a Clearfield variety with more winter hardiness. Again to move into areas where 101 and 102 don't really fit. So this is into the Eltan area where you want some snowmold resistance, some crown rot resistance but that winter hardiness is important. A little late maturity is appropriate. So it may not be a fit for a lot of people in Oregon. I think there is a fit for it possibly in the LeGrande area, but it is really targeted for the Eltan area in north central Washington where we want to keep 101 and 102 out of those areas." Peterson says ORCF-103 will be released though OSU's non-exclusive Clearfield variety licensing program. Peterson: "So, again no plant back option with those varieties. Certified seed purchases only, but that has been integral to making this whole program and making it viable to participate with BASF." OSU says ORCF-103 has acceptable end-use quality attributes for the soft white wheat market. It actually has lower gluten strength than Eltan, which is an advantage in processing and baking of most soft white wheat products. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.