b"plant populationis discarded and doesnt contribute to pro- rate. Although management practices for growing this hybrid ductivity, making seed production costly. wheat wont differ much from conventional varieties, producers The yield difference between your open pollinated varietiesmust sign a hybrid seed stewardship agreement that includes a and your hybrid has to be pretty big to be able to pay for theno saved seed clause, requiring them to repurchase new seed fact that you only harvest 75% of the [planted seeds in the] field.every year.Hodges says. While BASF is pulling out of hybrid wheat research in North America, it intends to continue its hybrid wheat efforts in Europe. Yields are higher in Europe, so even a slight increase in yields from this hybrid seed may give farmers a practical option. Not everyone is pessimistic about hybrid wheats potential in North America. In fact, Syngenta is ramping up its North American hybrid wheat efforts. Syngenta is poised to roll out its new wheat hybrid in theMore yield means more inputs, more nitrogen, more United States under the AgriPro brand. Syngenta reports that the hybrid has the potential to increase yields by as much as 15%phosphate. over conventional varieties. Early reports from farmers in theleuan EvansU.S. Northern Plains region who have had the chance to trial the hybrid through AgriPro are generally positive. Kevin Capistran of Minnesota-based Capistran Seeds has already been growing the hybrid for a couple of years.Its early in the process yet, but there is a lot of promise, he says. When it comes to market potential, theres been limited acres grown but good interest. Growing PainsDave Hankey of North Dakota-based Hankey Feed CompanyBecause scientists create hybrid wheat seed by planting a has sold the wheat hybrid to more than a dozen customers.combination of male pollinators and non-self-pollinating female To our customers, we are taking it somewhat slow, he says.plants that open and flower, the chance of ergot infection is Results have been a little bit mixed with three-quarter wins. Butexceptionally high. While ergot can be fairly easily cleaned from it's nice to be on the forefront.a harvested crop, it is still a concern that carries additional cost. Its also nice, he says, that hybrid wheats classification as non- leuan Evans, AgriTrend forensic plant pathologist, says it's GMO will make it an attractive alternative to those resisting theimportant to understand hybrid wheat, despite the potential for idea of genetically modified technologies. heterosis, is not a silver bullet that will automatically boost yields. Growing 150 acres of F1 or offspring himself, Hankey says hesHybrid wheat might boast a 15-20% return on investment but, seen good results, with the male/female blends already perform- if producers want an increase to their bottom line, they should ing better than the previous year. He anticipates the crop willexpect to have to increase inputs as well.see more acres next year, as he'll be able to offer three times asNow, if you want to grow a 50, 60, 70, 80-bushel crop of much seed as in 2023.wheat, youve got to balance the fertility to obtain those levels, Hankey says that, despite the hybrid vigor benefit, pricing willEvans says. More yield means more inputs, more nitrogen, more pose a limitation. There's a price point where farmers will havephosphate. resistance, but theres a risk factor for us growing it that we haveEvans says early research in apomixis is another means to to account for. move hybrid wheat technology forward. Apomixisseed pro-Hankey notes that one of the reasons he started growingduction without pollination that produces seeds genetically iden-hybrid wheat is that many wheat acres in his area were being losttical to the mother plantoccurs naturally in several hundred to corn. That loss is, at least in part, because corn and soybeanplant species including dandelions and saskatoons. If apomixis technology has advanced faster than wheat. He says he hopescould be engineered into hybrid wheat, Evans says it could prove he recent progression in wheat hybridization technology mayan avenue to reach a large-scale production level. push wheat one step closer to catching up to the growth andHybrid wheat has promise; however, Evans says farmers progress of other major crops.should prepare to invest in the beginning and be ready to wade AgriPros website states that its hybrid wheat seed will allowthrough some growing pains. It will take research, trial and per-farmers to seed more land per pound of seed: the recom- sistence for wheat to reach the hybrid crop levels of corn and mended seeding rate is 80% of a typical wheat varietys seedingcanola.SWJUNE 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /29"