Montana’s spring wheat varieties are making waves beyond state lines, with impressive performances in recent Washington variety trials.
In the 2024 Washington State University (WSU) spring wheat trials, Montana’s hard red spring wheat varieties, MT Dutton and MT Carlson, ranked in the top four for yield and quality, securing their place among the best.
Approximately one-third of Washington’s spring wheat acres are dedicated to hard red varieties, and Montana’s wheat breeding program is clearly making its mark. The standout results are a testament to the hard work of Jason Cook, the spring wheat breeder at Montana State University (MSU), and his dedicated team. Washington’s 2024 wheat trials, conducted across 12 sites, showed the importance of variety selection in managing the challenges posed by heat waves during grain fill.
MT Dutton and MT Carlson, among other varieties, demonstrated excellent yield potential, quality traits, and disease resistance, making them highly competitive in the Pacific Northwest.
###
Montana Wheat & Barley Commitee/Washington Grain Commission
