Newest Soybean Varieties and Corn Hybrids from NorthStar Genetics Canada

Written By John Dietz

New soybean varieties for 2019 include NSC Sperling RR2Y and NSC Newton RR2X. NS 79-521 is the new corn hybrid. In summer plots, watch for three promising varieties for 2020, NSC Melfort RR2X, NSC Redvers RR2X and NSC Winkler RR2X.

NorthStar Genetics Canada is releasing two new lines of Roundup Ready 2® soybeans for the 2019 growing season as well as a new corn hybrid.

The new lines join several other NorthStar Genetics RR2 varieties of soybeans that are already popular in southern Manitoba, says Claude Durand, NorthStar Genetics Product Development Manager.

The newest soybeans are the fruit of evaluating hundreds of soybean lines over the past six years.

NSC Newton RR2X

With NSC Newton RR2X, NorthStar Genetics is looking at a replacement for NSC Tilston RR2Y. In trials across the Prairies, Newton has been considered an early to mid-season variety. Newton has been rated with a relative maturity of 00.3 or 2375 crop heat units (CHU).

Trials show Newton as a tall, medium-bush, Xtend variety that stands well, with a solid yield performance across a wide range of environments.

“Tilston was popular with many of our customers due to its tall stature, high pod height and cold tolerance,” says Durand. “We see these same attributes in Newton, but with the Xtend trait, better standability and white mould tolerance. In addition to being a day or two earlier, Newton is slightly higher yielding than Tilston.”

Durand says Newton should be a good fit in a mid-to shorter-season environment, so it should have adaptability across Western Canada.

For most soybean varieties, cool summers will delay maturity. Newton is the exception.

“Due to its cold tolerance, Newton would be a good complement in short-season areas,” Durand says. “It appears well adapted to soybean growing areas of Alberta, where nights can be very cool.”

In side by side variety trials, he adds, Newton rated at nine out of ten points for adaptability, standability and emergence, plus eight points for seedling vigour, white mould and IDC.

NSC Sperling RR2Y

NorthStar Genetics hopes to have, in Sperling, a long sought-after replacement for NSC Richer RR2Y.

“Richer has been one of the most popular varieties since its release, due to its consistent high yield, and overall agronomic package,” Durand says. “However, it does tend to get white mould in wetter years due to its rank growth. With NSC Sperling RR2Y, most characteristics are similar to Richer but we have seen a slight improvement in yield and much better white mould tolerance. In trials, it matured about a day earlier than Richer.”

Sperling is rated with a relative maturity of 00.6 or 2450-CHU growing areas, mostly seen in southeastern Manitoba. It is broadly adapted across various soils, has fast emergence, good stress and drought tolerance and a very strong IDC rating. It is medium for plant type and height.

NS 79-521 VT2PRIB

NorthStar Genetics is excited to be introducing a new 79-day maturity corn for seeding in 2019.

“Our new Roundup Ready® Corn 2 Technology System hybrid won’t be the tallest variety you’ll find, but it has a solid, top-end yield and a very good test weight,” Durand says.

NS 79-521 is a medium-tall hybrid with excellent stalks and very good roots. It has very good early plant vigour, is early flowering, develops a girthy ear and has very good drydown performance.

It is rated good for drought tolerance, stalk strength and northern leaf blight resistance.

The VT2PRIB designation is important to understand, Durand adds.

Hybrids with the VT Double PRO® trait have dual modes of action for above ground insects, such as corn earworm and European corn borer. A five percent non-Bt refuge corn is blended into every bag, giving convenient refuge compliance.

Coming in 2020

While scouting for new lines at trials in July or August, Durand suggests, soybean growers may want to check out NSC Melfort RR2X (RM 000.7), NSC Redvers RR2X (RM 00.1) and NSC Winkler RR2X (RM 00.8).

Our Xtend trait soybeans are currently in plot and field scale trials across Western Canada, in preparation for a full launch in fall of 2019. The three varieties will be key to expansion of NorthStar Genetics lines west and north across the Prairies.

Limited amounts of seed for both will be available this fall.

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