The University of Minnesota has released a new hard red spring wheat variety called ‘MN-Torgy.’ MN-Torgy features a good combination of yield, protein, straw strength and disease resistance.
Jim Anderson, University of Minnesota wheat breeder, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, says: “MN-Torgy has shown its promise to perform well across the wheat growing region and its straw strength is better than most higher yielding varieties.”
MN-Torgy stood out in both state and regional trials including the Uniform Regional Nurseries trials where it finished 3rd out of 30 entries in 2017 and 2018.
Jochum Wiersma, University of Minnesota Extension Agronomist, stresses that: “MN-Torgy’s performance in UMN field trials and NDSU trials showcase its adaptability and highlight its value.”
The new release is named in honor of Dave Torgerson, a familiar name for northwest Minnesota farmers, who retired as Executive Director of both the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council and the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers in 2019.
“I was lucky to have worked for wheat growers who supported wheat research and the UMN wheat breeding program so strongly,” says Dave Torgerson. “When growers see the name it should remind them of Jim Anderson and the entire UMN breeding team who work tirelessly to develop better varieties for them.”
The support of the MN wheat organizations under Torgerson’s tenure has been instrumental in the release of other recent University of Minnesota spring wheat varieties; MN-Washburn (2019), Lang-MN (2017), Shelly (2016), Bolles (2015), Linkert (2013), and Rollag (2011). In addition, their support has been critical for other small grain research, which has benefited farmers throughout the upper Midwest.
Performance data and comparisons to other popular MN wheat varieties are included in the tables below. Additional performance data of previously released varieties can be found on the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station website at www.maes.umn.edu. Prior to being formally named, MN-Torgy was tested as MN14105-7.
