Overview of Norstar Winter Wheat
Few crops grown on the Canadian Prairies are at the same competitive level as winter wheat (Bayer Crop Science and Ducks Unlimited Canada, n.d.). A proven reliable winter wheat breed is Norstar winter wheat. It is a hardy red winter wheat strain developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, and released to the public in 1977. Norstar was synthesized through the combination of previous winter wheat varieties, Winalta and Alabaskaja (Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, 2007). The result was increased winter hardiness, allowing survival through the harsh winter months that the Canadian prairies are famous for.
As Norstar is a winter wheat, it requires planting in the fall in order to germinate, then it will enter a state of dormancy once colder temperatures arrive. It will not complete its growth cycle until closer to spring when the wheat experiences temperatures between zero and five degrees Celsius (Curtis, n.d.). This unconventional early planting, compared to spring wheat, is what allows for winter wheat’s early harvestability. The advantage of being able to harvest a crop early allows for an increase in production. Winter wheat specifically takes advantage of the normally unproductive winter months and puts the land to use where other crops are not able to survive and thrive through harsh weather conditions.
Although Norstar winter wheat has huge benefits to the farmer, including heightened tolerance to varied winter conditions, the seed is no longer produced in large quantities for planting at this time. It was created and released to farmers almost forty years ago. Further advancements that are more beneficial have since been made in the winter wheat sector. This likely has led to Norstar taking a back seat, in a manner of speaking, to the newer and more advanced varieties on the market. Norstar is now most commonly reserved for research and genetic advances for the development of other varieties. This poses a substantial complication when it comes to marketing and promoting Norstar, especially with regards to exporting the winter wheat seed to other countries around the globe. There are other Canadian winter wheat options currently on the market and available for exportation. Another wheat variety with these characteristics would be a better option with more marketable opportunities.