Most farmers who grew midge tolerant wheat last year were satisfied with its performance and intend to plant it again this year, according to a growers survey.
Rob Hannam, president of Synthesis Agri-Food Network, said 86 percent of farmers who responded to the mail-in survey indicated that varietal blends of midge tolerant wheat met or exceeded their expectations last year.
And 96 percent of respondents said the varieties’ ability to resist wheat midge was as good or better than they expected.
About 1,200 western Canadian farmers planted midge tolerant wheat last year on 358,000 acres.
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Preliminary results from the survey, which was distributed late last year, were based on 350 responses, but the number of respondents is increasing each week.
“The final survey hasn’t been completed yet but we’ve got a very good sample and a good indication of the results,” said Hannam, whose company conducted the survey on behalf of the Midge Tolerant Stewardship Team.
“We’ll never get to 100 percent (satisfaction).… The weather is a factor … and it’s a big, diverse area that we’re talking about so there’s bound to be one or two areas where it didn’t perform as well and that affects the results but overall I think 86 percent (satisfaction) is very strong.”
The survey is part of a larger communications effort aimed at gauging farmer satisfaction with midge tolerant wheat varieties.
The new varieties require farmers to sign a midge tolerant stewardship agreement .
“One of the key components of the agreement is that you can’t save seed beyond one year,” said Hannam.
Violating those terms could result in fines or restrictions on future production.
The stewardship agreement is necessary to ensure that the varietal blends of midge tolerant wheat seed contain the recommended levels of midge tolerant and midge susceptible seeds.
Proper blending is a key component of what is known as an interspersed refuge system, which is designed to prolong the viability of the midge resistant trait.
“You can’t save it (and plant it) for three or four years because the interspersed refuge will break down.”
Market research conducted by Hannam’s company also showed that prairie farmers are becoming more familiar with the interspersed refuge system and that most agree limiting the use of farm saved seed is necessary.
Hannam said nine out 10 farmers who responded to the survey agreed “it is critical to have a stewardship program in place.”
More than eight in 10 agreed that “an interspersed refuge system prevents build up of a virulent (resistant) midge population.”
However, only 48 percent of Saskatchewan farmers agreed “it is necessary to limit the use of farm saved seed to one generation” to keep the refuge varieties at the desired level.
That compares with 73 percent in Alberta and 80 percent in Manitoba.
In theory, commercial farmers who grow the seed could test their own common seed supplies to ensure that the refuge variety falls within an acceptable range.
Producers could blend their own supplies and have them retested if the refuge variety fell below the prescribed level.
Reluctance among Saskatchewan farmers to buy new certified seed supplies every two years is a concern because most midge damage occurs in Saskatchewan.
“We’re not asking (farmers) to plant 100 percent certified seed every year, all the time … but we are asking them not to save it beyond one year,” said Hannam.
“Some people disagree with that, especially in Saskatchewan. My personal hope is that that will change over time.”
Genetics in midge tolerant wheat varieties are improving and more varieties will become available over the next few years.
“There are new varieties even for this year … that have better disease resistance … better standability and so on,” he said. “Every year we’re going to see newer varieties, one or two or three a year, and they’re going to have even better agronomics. In three or four years, there’s going to be lots of choice.”
Unity VB was the most popular midge tolerant blend last year, accounting for about 1.6 percent of all red spring wheat acres. Goodeve VB was second at 0.7 percent.
Red spring wheat varieties account for 75 percent of all wheat acres planted in the West. Glencross VB accounted for 12.8 percent of total acreage in the Canada Western Extra Strong (CWES) class.
Todd Hyra, western business manager for Secan, said midge tolerant wheat acres weren’t as high last year as he had expected, but demand was solid.
“Three hundred and fifty thousand acres in Year 1? That’s not a bad start,” Hyra said.
“I was hoping for bigger acreage, but its still a fantastic launch for a new product.”
Hyra said demand for midge tolerant seed was variable.
Supplies sold out in areas with high midge pressure, but sales fell short of expectations elsewhere.
Hyra, who played a key role in developing the stewardship agreement, said poor wheat prices, negative signals from grain markets and a reduction in expected midge pressure may have dampened growers’ enthusiasm last year.
Prices for certified midge tolerant seed were higher than those for non-tolerant varieties, he added, and stewardship requirements might have scared off a few growers.
“Not only were prices down but the midge forecast was off as well, so those contributing factors kind of cooled the enthusiasm.”
However, he said market acceptance was positive overall.
Some producers indicated that midge tolerant varieties were tough to thresh and others raised concerns about straw strength and lodging.
However, yields were good. Hyra said some growers harvested their highest yields ever with midge tolerant varieties, and midge damaged kernels were noticeably reduced.
“It’s been rare over my career where I’ve had customers phone and thank me or tell me good things about a product … but I had a number of instances this year.”
He said midge tolerant blends account for five of 34 wheat entries in this year’s SaskSeed Guide. All five are ranked in the province’s top 10 yielding wheat varieties.
“There is no agronomic penalty for midge tolerant wheats,” said Hyra.
Ron DePauw, an Agriculture Canada scientist who is examining the stability and performance of midge tolerant blends, said the high yields suggest that the refuge system and the gene that confers midge resistance are performing as expected.
He said studies conducted in 2007 and 2008 showed that midge damage is consistently lower in midge resistant varieties.
Sixty-five percent of the economic losses that occur in midge-susceptible wheat fields are caused by reduced crop yields.
The rest is caused by low bushel weights, grade reductions and cleaning losses.
“Sixty-five percent of the loss occurs in the field,” DePauw said.
“You didn’t even see it. It’s out the back end of the combine.”
Hyra said availability of most midge tolerant varieties should be good this year despite production problems in some areas last year.
He said use was strongest last year in areas with traditionally high midge pressure, such as northeastern and east-central Saskatchewan.
Demand was particularly high in the Tisdale, Melfort, Nipawin and Churchbridge areas.
The price differential between certified supplies of midge tolerant and midge susceptible varieties is likely to diminish as use of midge tolerant varieties expands and supplies increase, he added.
