Van Pelt says McKay Seed Company has several varieties coming along that show promise. One of these is called Amass. Durum was produced last year near Almira under dryland conditions. It yielded 50 bushels per acre with about 14 inches of precipitation. If durum is produced using no-till practices, the key is the amount of pressure above the seed.
Compaction inhibits germination and emergence.
Also, the recommendation is to not plant durum if there is any chance ofa rainstorm immediately after planting. Hessian fly is a potential insect problem for durum, as are rusts. Breeding programs are in place to develop resistance to these two problems. In general, herbicides labeled for wheat can be used for durum, but growers are cautioned to check labels. Goat grass has not been a problem to date.