Technical Board Members

Brian Walker, Horizon Milling, Chair
Jim Anderson, U of MN wheat breeder, Secretary
Brian Sorenson, NCI, voted in as vice-chair at this meeting
Jim Peterson, ND Wheat Commission
Jim Schuh, George Weston Bakeries (did not attend)

This was the annual meeting of the Spring Wheat Technical Board, held in conjunction with the annual Wheat Quality Council meetings.

Brian Walker, chair, called the meeting to order and introduced the technical board and advisory board in attendance.  Advisory board members in attendance included: Bert D’Appoloina, Elias Elias, Gary Hareland, Joel Ransom, Karl Glover, and Dale Williams.

Jim Anderson presented the minutes of the April 1, 2003 meeting of the Spring Wheat Technical Board.  Highlights of the minutes were:

·        Budget and grow-out plans were reviewed.  Due to a lack of durum millers/processors as part of the Wheat Quality Council, it was decided that private companies entering durum lines for evaluation would have to pay $500 per sample or obtain new memberships to offset this cost of the grow-outs and evaluation.

·        Checks for 2003 grow-outs were to be Grandin and Parshall.

·        The publication format and overall quality ratings were discussed.  Cooperators were encouraged to add comments with their overall quality ratings in the 2003 crop publication.

·        Use of the Wheat Quality Council emblem was discussed as a means of promoting greater awareness of the Council and promoting wheat quality.  Due to possible miss-use of the emblem and potential legal ramifications, no action was taken.

The minutes were approved.

Brian Walker nominated Brian Sorenson to replace Wes Trombley as committee vice-chair.  This nomination was seconded and approved.

The 2003 spring wheat grow-out report was given (entry lists/locations attached).

• Dale Williams reported that overall grow-out conditions in 2003 were good, with little disease and excellent quality.  Eight experimentals were evaluated at two to four locations each (Brookings, SD, Casselton, ND, Minot, ND, and Crookston, MN).  ‘Grandin’ and ‘Parshall’ were the checks.  Bert D’Appolonia questioned the low protein values from the Crookston location.
• Gary Hareland reported that 33 samples (100% of those planted) were milled by his laboratory in Fargo.  The samples were milled on the Buehler mill this year because the Miag mill is being repaired.  Gary brought representative grain samples from each location.  Extra tests included this year by Hareland’s lab included PPO, starch damage, and alveograph/consistograph.  Baking cooperators included an overall score in addition to a milling and baking score. 
• The durum report was given by Brian Sorenson.  Only two experimental durums were grown in 2003 along with the check ‘Maier’.  Plots were grown at both Minot, ND and Sidney, MT.  Only grain from the Sidney locations was used in the milling and cooperator evaluations.  This grain was milled in Fargo and semolina was sent to cooperators.

The financial report was given be Brian Walker.  He reported a 2003 budget of $15,100 and expenditures of $24,525.  Our 2004 budget request was $13,500 but there is actually only $9,585 available to spend in 2004 due to the 2003 over-expenditures.  Gary Hareland offered to cut his budget by 1/2 and cover some of the milling costs with other funds.  Therefore, about 25 samples can be accommodated for 2004.  Ben Handcock indicated that the spring wheat committee had funds of $18,987.02 in a certificate of deposit and $5,109.09 in a checking account that was available for use only for spring wheat.

Dave Katzke asked why Parshall was chosen as the check.  Jim Peterson responded that Parshall was chosen due to its wide adaptation, better scab and leaf rust resistance compared to Grandin.  There was some concern regarding having Parshall as the check because earlier in the Wheat Quality Council meeting, Bill Berzonsky reported that Parshall was a partial (one gene) waxy wheat.

There was a general discussion about the current ratings system that was lead by Brian Sorenson.  Cooperators were asked to respond as to how they determined their “overall score”.  Jill (Horizon milling) indicated that milling accounted for 30% and baking 70% of their overall score and protein per se was not included.  The next question was whether we need protein information as part of the overall rating.  Bert D’Applonia indicated that if a sample had low protein compared to the check that this should be given some consideration in the overall quality assessment.  Brian Sorenson indicated that he would send a letter to all cooperators to ask how they determined their overall quality score.

Brian Sorenson gave a brief report on the spring wheat quality targets meeting that was held at the Embassy Suites on February 24.

Dave Green, ADM, assigned cooperators to introduce each experimental line for the technical review session to be held February 26.

The meeting was adjourned.
 

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