University of Minnesota wheat breeder Jim Anderson says improving disease resistance remains one of the highest priorities when developing new wheat varieties. “Our emphasis has been on bacterial leaf streak and Fusarium head blight because those two can be the real killers,” Anderson said. “We also continue to emphasize pre-harvest sprouting resistance. Sprouting has been an issue probably one out of every four or five years, but when it does come up and you get the low falling numbers, you can get some really big discounts.” Anderson was part of the Northwest Research and Outeach Center Crops and Soils Day.
