Minutes of the Hard Winter Wheat Technical Committee February 16, 2010

Margo Caley called the meeting at order at 8:05 a.m., and reported that the 2009 minutes had been posted to the WQC website.  A motion from the floor to accept the 2009 minutes was seconded and approved.

Slate of Officers for 2010-2011
Chair:  Becky Miller, KSU
Vice Chair:  Sid Perry, WestBred/Monsanto
Secretary:  Craig Warner, Sara Lee
Member:  Theresa Sutton nominated by Scott Haley
Member:  Justin Turner nominated by Laura Mclaughlin

Vote to accept new members was passed by voice vote.

Report by Richard Chen on WQC Report for 2009

• This was the largest number of samples since 2002

• Damaged starch content included as an additional test

• There would be no flour particle size data

• Mill stream protein, ash, cumulative curves included

• Collaborator bake and test information included beginning page 248

• Acknowledged Scott Haley in helping evaluate the baking results

Ben Handcock thanked Dr. Chen for his work as Editor of the WQC Milling and Baking Test Results for Hard Winter Wheats book.

Overview of 2008 Milling and Sampling by Brad Seabourne
There were 8 breeders and 19 cooperators.  KSU grain science was instrumental in providing excellent sample handling.  Brad thanked Dr. Chen for the report.  No changes are expected in handling or milling for the 2010 samples.

Comments by Ben Handcock
Ben recognized Joe Martin, KSU breeder at Hays, for his years of contribution, and congratulations on his impending retirement.  Ben noted that there is a surplus in the budget, and there has been increased membership.  Recognized Brian Walker’s term as Chair of the WQC and thanked him for the excellent leadership that he provided.  The new Chair will be Hayden Wands of Sara Lee, the first baker in this position for a number of years.  Ben thanked Laura Mclaughlin for reducing shipping costs considerably with a new approach. 

Overseas Varietal Analysis (OVA) Program Review

Steve Wirsching made the presentation.  Steve will be taking the lead in place of John Oades, who will be moving to a half time role.  Steve covered the objectives of the OVA, and gave an overview of the 2008 samples.  There were:

• 19  HRW cooperators (overseas labs)

• 16  SRW

• 25  HRS

• 18  SW

• 9  Durum

The 2009 crop will have:

• 22  HRW

• 15  SRW

• 24  HRS

• 17  SW

• 11  Durum

There were a total of 42 cooperators and 705 samples.  Varieties were Hatcher (check), Ripper, Postrock, TAM 111, TAM 112, Duster, OK Rising, and Genou

Ripper, TAM 112, Genou, Hatcher, and Postrock were preferred for French bread.
Postrock and TAM 111 were preferred for steam bread.
Duster and TAM 112 were preferred for Asian fresh white noodles.
Ripper, Genou, Hatcher, OK Rising, and TAM 112 were preferred for white pan bread.

Thanks to the three organizations in Kansas that made this OVA activity possible. They include the USDA/ARS Hard Winter Wheat Quality Laboratory in Manhattan, KS for performing all the rheological and bake tests and generated the quality data.  The Kansas State University, Department of Grain Science and Industry for milling all of the wheat samples, and the USDA/ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, (CGAHR) for handling and distribution of the wheat and flour samples that were sent to our overseas cooperators.

Steve recognized Jim Peterson from the North Dakota Wheat Commission for his management of the Spring OVA program.  The HRS samples were milled by Kansas State University, Department of Grain Science and Industry.  The Durum Wheat Quality and Pasta Processing Laboratory, located in the Department of Plant Sciences at the North Dakota State University for performing the rheological and bake tests.  The Spring wheat report was written by Dr. Simsek, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Science, NDSU.

Erica Olsen, North Dakota Wheat Commission, managed the durum OVA program.  The Durum wheat samples were milled by the Northern Crops Institute, in Fargo, ND.  The rheological and end product analysis was performed by the Durum Wheat Quality and Pasta Processing Laboratory, located in the Department of Plant Sciences at the North Dakota State University.  The Durum wheat report was written by Dr. Frank Manthey, Durum and Pasta Quality, Plant Science Department, NDSU.

The Wheat Quality Improvement Team visited North Africa and western Europe.  There were 6 breeders and 6 nationalities, representing both public and private breeding programs.  The following market trends were noted:

UK:   Spring wheat not too strong; like the consistency; concerned with food safety, color, and prefers small, tight, cell structure.  They are not ready for GMO, but acknowledge  it will happen.

Spain:  Prefer strong doughs; like our durum color; consistency is good; prefer low wheat ash; need to be aware of cadmium levels; recommend subclasses of extra strong and strong.

Italy:  Concerned with food safety; watch cadmium levels; using glutograph instead of alveograph.  No to GMO.

North Africa:  Concerned with color; durum protein needs minimum 13.5; gluten index 80%; do not want specks on kernels; prefer durum vitreousness of 80% or greater.

OVA Discussion
Dave Green asked the question, “In general, the World would buy more of our wheat if:”?
The answer:
The the Durum wheat was more yellow,
The Spring wheat had longer stability,
The Winter wheat was more consistent.

Steve Baenziger asked when will Europe accept GMO?  No timetable, but they have a resigned acceptance in the UK.

Ochratoxin Standards are becoming more important.  Some are basing purchases on maximum ochratoxin levels.  The U.S. wheat does not tend to have a problem.

Update on Crop Conditions

Montana State – Jim Berg
Normal crop year.  Winter wheat had 25% greater yield level.  MSU will have a new release called Decade.

CSU-Scott Haley
Good moisture, cool season, and nice yields.  Late harvest.  Good planting conditions this fall.

SDSU-Bill Berzonsky
First crop year for Bill.  Little winterkill, late harvest.  New release called Lyman with very good scab resistance.

KSU-Joe Martin
Very good yields.  Fall moisture good, lot of early planting.  Stands look good.

WestBred- Sid Perry
South Central KS had a difficult harvest with BYDV, late frost, wet conditions and scab.  This fall’s planting consists of very early planting which has good stands and growth.  Over half of the acres, however, were delayed to later than desired due to wet conditions.  Very little ground cover on this late planting.  Much of southeast KS was not planted.

Agripro- Jon Rich
Northeast KS had a decent harvest, but also saw a lot of BYDV.  Like south central KS, this fall’s planting has an early set of acres, and a delayed set due to excessive rain during prime planting time. 

Oklahoma- Brett Carver
Oklahoma suffered from significant late freeze damage, and wet harvest conditions.  Like Kansas, this fall’s planting had delays during prime planting season.

Texas- Jackie Rudd
Like Oklahoma, north TX and parts of the panhandle experienced significant freeze damage.
Dry conditions affected much of the wheat crop.  This fall had improved planting conditions, the crop appears in good shape.

Closing Comments
Ben Handcock noted that the glutamatic machine at the HWWQL was “dead”.  Any donations to the lab would be appreciated! 

Laura Mclaughlin moved to adjourn, Scott Haley seconded.  Vote to adjourn passed by voice vote.  Meeting adjourned at 9:09 a.m.

Back to Top    Back to Tech Boards