nd-crops

NEWS RELEASE
                                                           Wheat Varieties
                                                             July 23, 2002

             ALSEN AND BEN ARE LEADING WHEAT VARIETIES IN 2002

The leading North Dakota spring wheat variety for 2002 was Alsen, which
moved up from sixth place in 2001, according to the North Dakota
Agricultural Statistics Service (NDASS). Other leading spring wheat
varieties were Gunner, Reeder, Parshall, and Oxen. Of the 7.0 million acres
of spring wheat planted in North Dakota, the top five varieties accounted
for 64.0 percent of the total. Russ, the 2001 leader, fell to seventh in
2002.

The durum wheat variety Ben maintained its first place position for the
fourth straight year and Lebsock moved into second place from eighth in
2001. Mountrail climbed into third place in 2002. Together the top three
varieties accounted for 55.8 percent of the 2.0 million of durum acres
planted in 2002. These top three varieties are all North Dakota releases.
Renville dropped from second place in 2001 to sixth place in 2002. Munich
slipped from third to seventh place.

The data in this report is based on the results of a June survey conducted
by USDA's North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service of over 1,900 wheat
producers. The North Dakota Wheat Commission and the North Dakota State
University (NDSU) Agriculture Experiment Station provided supporting funds
for this survey. Free copies of the publication are available from the
North Dakota Wheat Commission, 4023 State Street, Bismarck, ND 58503-0690;
telephone 701-328-5111.

Spring Wheat

Alsen was the most popular spring wheat variety this year. It accounted for
30.8 percent of the spring wheat acres or 2.2 million acres planted. This
compared to 6.7 percent last year when it was in sixth place. Alsen, a 2000
North Dakota release, was most popular in the northern two-thirds of the
state.

Gunner, a 1995 Agri Pro release, maintained its second place position in
2002. Gunner accounted for 9.1 percent of the spring wheat acres planted,
compared to 16.1 percent in 2001. It was the second leading variety in
northwest, north central, northeast and central districts.

Reeder was the third most popular spring wheat variety, up from eighth
place last year. It accounted for 8.6 percent of the spring wheat acres
statewide, compared to 4.3 percent last year. Reeder, a 1999 North Dakota
release, was most popular in the southwest and south central districts.

Parshall moved up to fourth place in 2002 from fifth in 2001, accounting
for 7.9 percent of the spring wheat planted acreage.

Durum Wheat

Ben was the most popular North Dakota durum wheat variety for the fourth
year in a row. It accounted for 520,300 acres or 26.0 percent of the 2.0
million durum acres planted, down from 27.5 percent in 2001. It has broad
appeal statewide and was the leading variety in the southern two-thirds of
the state.

Lebsock moved up to second place in 2002 from eighth. It represented
315,000 acres or 15.8 percent of the durum acres planted, compared to 3.2
percent in 2001. It was the leading variety in the north central and the
northeast district.

Mountrail moved into third place in 2002 from fourth. It comprised 14.0
percent of the acres of durum planted this year, up from the 7.9 percent of
last year's acreage. It was released in 1998 by North Dakota.

Kyle rose from seventh to fourth place this year with 7.8 percent of the
planted durum acreage, up from 6.2 percent in 2001. It was grown mainly in
the northwest district.

Winter Wheat

Some of the winter wheat varieties reported planted in North Dakota include
Elkhorn, Harding, Ransom, Roughrider and Wesley. Winter wheat variety
estimates are not published due to insufficient number of winter wheat
variety reports in 2002.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doug Hartwig, State Statistician
North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service
NDSU, IACC Bldg., Room 448
P.O. Box 3166
Fargo, ND 58108-3166
Telephone: (701) 239-5306
E-Mail: nass-nd@nass.usda.gov
Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/