Howard
Howard is a hard red spring wheat (HRSW), semidwarf variety that is best adapted to the growing conditions in central and western North Dakota, but also has performed well in eastern North Dakota. Howard is expected to replace acreage of Reeder and Parshall, both NDSU-released varieties.
The parentage of Howard includes the varieties Parshall, Grandin and Amidon, along with several experimental lines. One of the experimental lines is the same one that provided the scab resistance in Steele-ND.
According to NDSU plant pathologists, Howard has a level of scab resistance similar to Steele-ND. It also is resistant to current races of stem and leaf rust. Howard has a higher level of resistance to other predominant leaf diseases than all other NDSU varieties except Dapps.
Howard is similar in maturity to Alsen, a 2000 NDSU release and the predominant HRSW variety grown in the state. Howard is slightly taller, but has slightly weaker straw strength than Alsen. However, the straw strength of Howard is stronger than that of Parshall or Steele-ND.
Howard was named after Howard Olson. Olson served as superintendent and oversaw the relocation and establishment of the NDSU Research Extension Center at Williston at its present site five miles west of Williston.
In 41 trials conducted between 2003 and 2005 at the Carrington, Prosper, Langdon, Minot, Williston, Dickinson and Hettinger Research Extension Centers, Howard yielded 4.2, 1.6, 0.8, 3.6 and 1.2 bushels per acre more than Alsen, Glenn, Parshall, Reeder and Steele-ND, respectively.
In 21 trials at the Minot, Williston, Dickinson and Hettinger Research Extension Centers from 2003 to 2005, Howard outyielded Parshall and Reeder by 3.6 and 0.8 bushels per acre.
Test weight and average protein of Howard is similar to that of Alsen. Howard has a larger kernel size than either Parshall or Reeder and has excellent milling and baking properties.
This variety is protected by the Plant Variety Protection Act of 1970 as amended in 1994 (“PVPA”). The PVPA prohibits, among other things, the propagation, multiplication, production, sale, use or advertisement of this protected variety without either an assignment or license from the NDSU Research Foundation. Please use the “Contact by Email” link below if interested in obtaining a license for this variety.