IDAHO WHEAT COMMISSION

Wheat Varieties

Idaho Wheat Classes

Idaho is the only state where buyers can find five of the six classes of wheat in one place. Wheat class is determined by kernel hardness and color, and by planting time. Each class of wheat has its own characteristics related to milling, baking and agronomic needs.

Hard Red Winter Wheat

Versatile, with excellent milling and baking characteristics for pan bread, Hard Red Winter is the choice for general purpose flour and cereal, flour tortillas, hard rolls and flat breads.

Hard Red Spring Wheat

Excellent for artisan and “designer” wheat foods like hearth breads, baguettes, croissants, bagels and pizza crust. Flour from Hard Red Spring is also blended with other flours to improve baking characteristics.

Hard White Wheat

Perfect for whole wheat breads, Asian-style noodles, bagels, hard-rolls and high-extraction applications.

Soft White Wheat

A low moisture wheat with high extraction rates, providing a whiter, brighter product for exquisite cakes, pastries, cookies, crackers and Asian-style noodles, Soft White is also excellent for flat breads.

Durum Wheat

Durum is the hardest of the wheat classes with the largest kernel and a high protein content. It is used to make pasta, couscous and Mediterranean breads.

What you can do with Protected Varieties

Protection

Brown Bag
(Save Back Seed)

Resale

Protection
Term

No Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)*
No Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)*
Seed sold commercially must be sold by variety name
None
PVPA and Title V**
No Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)*
No resale allowed unless intended use on own farm plans change and then only by variety and certified seed
20 Years
PVPA but no Title V
No Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)*
No Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)*
20 Years
Patent
Grower cannot save seed for any planting  or      commercial  purposes
Not permitted
20 Years
Seed Sales Agreement***
Typically no save back seed
Typically no resale, based on individual agreement
Specified in  agreement. Typically for onetime use of seed purchased

Preferred Wheat Varieties

Download the Preferred Wheat Varities PDF
download now

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