September 10, 2013

Husker Genetics releases new variety of wheat


Stephen Baenziger

UNL has released a new wheat variety that is especially well adapted to rainfed production systems.

Husker Genetics Brand Freeman is a joint release of UNL and the U.S. Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Research Service. It is named for Daniel Freeman, who is recognized as the first person to file for a homestead under the Homestead Act of 1862.

UNL agronomist and wheat breeder P. Stephen Baenziger said the wheat variety is particularly well suited for rainfed wheat production throughout Nebraska and in states north and west of Nebraska.

Freeman is the 34th wheat variety released during Baenziger’s UNL tenure.

Varieties developed by the UNL-USDA partnership typically comprise 60 to 65 percent of the wheat grown in Nebraska.

For more information, go to http://ianrnews.unl.edu/new-wheat-variety-ideal-rainfed-production.