C Brio — This variety has become the standard for eastern Ontario. It has excellent milling and baking characteristics with a high falling number and average protein levels. It has no issues on marketing. AC Brio is the highest yielding Pool C variety in eastern Ontario. Straw production is good mainly made up of long stems.

It has a tendency to lodge in high production/fertility environments but doesn’t go right flat like barley, allowing the grain to be still picked up.

AC Brio is susceptible to mildew and has shown a yield response to Folicur application. Seed supplies will have trouble keeping up with demand for this popular variety.

606 — Yielded comparable to AC Brio in 2002 and slightly less in 2001 plots. In high yield situations it will out yield AC Brio. 606 has excellent stand-ability, comparable to AC Walton and much better than AC Brio.

Moisture levels were higher at harvest this year than Brio, likely related to better plant health. It kept growing longer than Brio. It has excellent leaf disease tolerance and is less likely to require Folicur for leaf disease control. 606 has high straw yields even though it is 4" to 6" shorter than Brio.

It has more leaf than other varieties and the leaves don’t fall off the stem at harvest like other varieties. It has higher protein levels than Brio but a lower falling number.

A low and variable falling number in 2002 has made the Wheat Board look to subpool 606 in 2003. It will need to be kept separate from Pool C varieties and may be discounted slightly due to milling quality.

Alsen — A newly available variety in 2002, it yielded about 10 % less than AC Brio. Alsen has improved fusarium tolerance over other varieties. Therefore, if you are planting wheat into a field with fusarium risk (a previous crop of corn or wheat), then this is a variety you should consider planting. Fusarium tolerance takes priority over yield in these situations. Alsen has better standability than Brio but not as good as 606. Pooling status is still to be finalized on Alsen.

Celtic — This is the old standard that was widely grown in the past. Celtic has good milling characteristics and no marketing issues. It yields on average about 10% lower than AC Brio.

It should not be seeded following corn as yield will drop off when following other crops.

AC Barrie — Barrie yields comparable to Celtic. It has good milling characteristics and no marketing issues.

A good choice where growing conditions are tough on really heavy or light soils. Avoid planting it on fields with a history of lodging problems.