The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation forage breeding program continues the rich legacy of forage development that started more than 60 years ago with the release of new varieties.
In the early 1950s, the Noble Foundation established its breeding program for forages (plants consumed by grazing animals), specifically developing improved varieties for four small grains species: rye, wheat, oat and triticale (a rye/wheat hybrid). Today, the small grains breeding program is one of the organization's longest running breeding programs at the Noble Foundation.
The Noble Foundation's small grains breeding program continues to focus on creating dual-purpose varieties with improved forage qualities - better fall production, the ability to recover after grazing, and better overall forage yields to benefit livestock production in the Southern Great Plains and southeastern United States.
This ongoing work has produced four new small grains varieties over the past few years. These varieties will now be commercialized by Oklahoma Genetics Inc.
Wheat NF101
NF101 is the first wheat variety developed at the Noble Foundation for high fall and winter yield suitable for sustainable forage production and better grain production. NF101 produced the greatest fall-winter forage yield when compared to other varieties during seven years of testing. NF101 is well adapted to southern Oklahoma, northern Texas and the southeastern United States. "It is an excellent choice for producers wanting to maximize fall forage production under rain-fed conditions," said Mike Trammell, Noble Foundation plant breeder.
Triticale NF201
NF201 triticale is an alternative small grains forage for producers. NF201 is best adapted to the areas of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. It is more productive on marginal lands and requires less management under stressful conditions compared to wheat, according to Trammell.
Maton II Rye (NF306)
Maton II (NF306) is intended for use in fall through winter grazing systems and builds upon the Noble Foundation's previous release, Maton. Maton II produces more total forage when compared to the commonly grown rye varieties in southern Oklahoma, with more than half of its total yield produced during the early growing season. Maton II is suited for light-textured and sandy loam soils, and is well adapted to southern Oklahoma, northern and eastern Texas, and the southeastern United States.
Oat NF402
NF402 is a winter-type forage oat intended for pasture and forage production. In seven years of testing, NF402 produced more total forage than most commonly grown oat varieties with nearly half of the production occurring during the fall and winter.
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