But the variety, developed by American Cyanamid in France, was winterkilled. So, researchers at the center, along with MSU's winter wheat breeder Phil Bruckner, are attempting to incorporate the resistance trait into locally adapted hard red, hard white and soft white winter wheat varieties. The researchers stress that the resistant variety was not developed through genetic manipulation, said Stougaard. The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee is funding the research, which is being conducted in cooperation with American Cyanamid. However, a canola variety being evaluated at the center is a genetically modified organism developed by Monsanto.
Canola does well in the Flathead area, but broadleaf weeds have limited production of the crop.
So, this year, the station began evaluating canola that was modified to be resistant to Roundup, a widely used broad-spectrum herbicide. The center's researchers are also testing broadcast seeding and incorporation methods. Broadcast seeding is faster than drill seeding. To be most successful, the seed needs to be spaced as uniformly as possible, said Stougaard.