Choosing the Right Small Grain Cultivar: Why Yield Is Only Part of the Decision

For small grain producers, choosing the right cultivar is one of the most important decisions made before a crop enters the field. A cultivar with high yield potential can deliver strong results, but only when it is suited to the production environment and managed correctly. Small grain crops are grown under different soil, climate and production conditions across South Africa, which means that a cultivar that performs well in one area may not produce the same results elsewhere. Diseases, pests, weeds, soil conditions and crop management can all influence yield and grain quality during the production season. For this reason, producers need to look beyond yield potential and consider the complete performance of a cultivar before deciding what to plant.

Yield remains a major priority for farmers because it has a direct influence on the economic performance of a crop. However, a high-yielding cultivar is not automatically the most profitable or suitable option for every farm. A cultivar must be able to adapt to the conditions in which it will be planted and should provide acceptable grain quality for its intended market or use. Its ability to withstand or tolerate important diseases, pests and other production challenges can also influence the final harvest. Selecting a cultivar therefore involves balancing yield potential with reliability, quality and adaptation.

Production conditions can differ significantly between small grain farming areas, making cultivar adaptation particularly important. Soil characteristics, temperature, rainfall, irrigation and other environmental conditions influence how a crop develops throughout the growing season. Farmers also face different disease and pest pressures depending on where they farm and the conditions experienced during a particular season. A cultivar that is well adapted to its environment has a better opportunity to express its production potential under those conditions. Producers should therefore consider information about cultivar performance in environments that are comparable to their own production areas.

Disease resistance and pest resistance are also important factors in cultivar selection. Diseases can affect plants at different stages of development and may reduce both yield and grain quality. Pest pressure can create additional production challenges and may require farmers to invest in control measures. Cultivars with useful levels of resistance or tolerance can help producers manage some of these risks as part of an integrated crop production programme. This does not remove the need for proper crop monitoring and management, but it can form an important part of a broader strategy to protect the crop.

Weed management is another factor that can influence the success of a small grain crop. Weeds compete with crops for resources such as water, nutrients and growing space, potentially reducing crop performance when they are not properly managed. The effectiveness of weed management can also depend on the production system, soil conditions and available control methods. Farmers therefore need to consider weed pressure when planning their crop and selecting suitable management practices. Good cultivar selection should work together with sound weed, disease, pest, soil and crop management rather than being treated as a separate decision.

The Agricultural Research Council Small Grain breeding programme, known as ARC-SG, focuses on developing cultivars that address several of these production requirements. Its breeding work aims to combine high yield with grain quality, disease and pest resistance and adaptation to South Africa’s diverse production environments. This approach recognizes that farmers need cultivars that can perform reliably under real production conditions rather than varieties selected on yield alone. The development of adapted cultivars can provide producers with more options when planning their production systems. It also supports the broader goal of improving small grain production through research and cultivar development.

ARC-SG has released a number of small grain cultivars as part of its breeding programme. The spring wheat cultivars Kwartel, Ratel, Steenbok and Tredou were released in 2011. The programme was followed by the release of the irrigation cultivars Usutu, Selons and Umgeni between 2019 and 2020. In 2022, ARC-SG released the dryland winter wheat cultivar Mkuze and the oat cultivar Piketberg. These releases reflect ongoing breeding efforts aimed at providing producers with cultivars suited to different production systems and agricultural environments.

The distinction between irrigation and dryland production is particularly relevant when producers consider cultivar selection. Irrigated crops have access to a more controlled water supply, while dryland crops depend more heavily on rainfall and the soil’s ability to retain and supply available moisture. Cultivars developed for particular production systems can provide farmers with options that align more closely with their farming conditions. The release of irrigation cultivars such as Usutu, Selons and Umgeni and the dryland winter wheat cultivar Mkuze provides examples of how breeding programmes can respond to different production environments. Farmers should still evaluate cultivar performance against their own conditions and production objectives before making a planting decision.

Grain quality is another consideration that deserves attention when selecting a cultivar. Producing a large quantity of grain does not necessarily guarantee the best economic outcome if the grain does not meet the quality requirements of its intended market or use. Quality characteristics can influence the value and suitability of harvested grain, depending on the crop and market. Farmers therefore need to consider both the expected yield and the quality characteristics associated with a cultivar. This broader approach can help producers make decisions that are aligned with the commercial objectives of their farming operations.

The Small Grain Production Guidelines provided by ARC-SG can also assist farmers when comparing cultivar options. The guidelines are available free of charge to producers and contain information on cultivar performance from different breeding institutions. Access to performance information can help farmers compare cultivars using more than a single measure of performance. Producers can use this information alongside their knowledge of local soils, climate, production systems and previous crop performance. Having access to reliable production information can reduce the risk of selecting a cultivar based only on assumptions or limited experience.

Cultivar performance information is particularly useful because farming decisions often involve managing several risks at the same time. A producer may have a high-yielding cultivar available but also need to consider disease pressure, pest risks, grain quality and environmental conditions. The most appropriate cultivar may therefore be the one that provides a suitable balance between these characteristics rather than the one with the highest yield under ideal conditions. Farmers can use available performance data to identify cultivars that are better suited to their specific production environment. This can contribute to more informed decisions before seed is purchased and planted.

Small grain production also requires producers to consider the interaction between cultivar choice and crop management. Even a well-adapted cultivar requires appropriate planting, soil management, weed control, disease monitoring and other management practices. The genetic potential of a cultivar cannot be fully realised when basic production requirements are not met. Farmers should therefore view cultivar selection as one part of an integrated production strategy. Combining suitable genetics with sound agronomic practices can improve the chances of achieving stable and profitable production.

Research institutions such as ARC-SG play an important role in giving farmers access to improved genetic material and production knowledge. Breeding programmes take time because new cultivars need to be developed and evaluated before they can be made available to producers. Research also provides information that can help farmers understand how different cultivars perform under various conditions. The release of wheat and oat cultivars over several years demonstrates the continuing nature of this work. Knowledge sharing through production guidelines further connects research findings with practical decisions made on farms.

For small grain producers, the decision about which cultivar to plant should begin with the conditions and objectives of the farm. Farmers should consider whether the cultivar is suited to their production environment, whether its maturity and performance characteristics fit their farming system and whether it offers acceptable grain quality. Disease and pest resistance or tolerance should also be considered alongside expected weed and soil management requirements. Information from cultivar performance trials and production guidelines can help farmers compare available options more effectively. The final decision should be based on the combination of characteristics that best fits the farmer’s circumstances rather than on yield potential alone.

The work of ARC-SG demonstrates why modern small grain breeding must address more than production volume. Farmers need cultivars that can perform across diverse environments while offering useful grain quality and greater resilience to production challenges. The development of cultivars such as Kwartel, Ratel, Steenbok, Tredou, Usutu, Selons, Umgeni, Mkuze and Piketberg reflects ongoing efforts to provide producers with improved choices for different production systems. The availability of free Small Grain Production Guidelines adds another practical resource for farmers comparing cultivar performance. By combining research, cultivar development and knowledge sharing, ARC-SG is helping small grain producers make better-informed planting decisions and build production systems that focus on yield, quality, adaptation and long-term production performance.