NDSU Celebrates 100 Years Since the Release of Ceres Spring Wheat
Posted: 2026-07-01 08:34:13 Expiration: 2026-07-08 08:34:13
A century after NDSU researchers released Ceres in 1926, the university's crop breeding programs have developed more than 350 commodity varieties, and Ceres can be seen alongside modern wheat at Research Extension Centers this summer.
In 2026, NDSU marks a major milestone in the history of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. In 1926, 100 years ago, Ceres hard red spring wheat was released as the first spring wheat variety developed by NDSU researchers, the result of a hybridization between two existing varieties. Before this, all varieties were reselections from existing varieties, a common breeding technique of the period. The advancement combined good yield and quality traits with disease resistance, particularly for stem rust, that was sorely missing at the time. Since then, the spring wheat breeding program has released 59 other varieties.
The tools used in breeding and the definition of a successful variety have changed substantially over time, but NDSU spring wheat varieties have continued to have tremendous success over the years.
A Legacy of Breeders
Ceres wheat was developed by L.R. Waldron. The most prolific spring wheat breeder was Richard Frohberg, who was with NDSU for 37 years from the 1960s to the 2000s. During that time, many NDSU staple varieties were released, such as Alsen, Grandin, and Reeder, and he made the crosses for varieties like Faller and Glenn, which are still grown today. In his era, NDSU spring wheat varieties accounted for 80 to 90% of the total spring wheat acres in North Dakota.
Market conditions are much different today with the emergence of heavy industry investments in spring wheat breeding programs. Yet NDSU varieties maintain over 20% of total spring wheat acres. Over the past 100 years, NDSU spring wheat varieties have been grown on an estimated 300 million cumulative acres. The current spring wheat breeding program, led by Andrew Green, has recently released Stampede, Horizon, and Roughrider, varieties that are expected to gain a higher percentage of acres again.
Flagship Commodity Breeding Programs at NDSU
This year marks 100 years since the launch of modern spring wheat breeding in North Dakota, but many other commodity crops have similarly remarkable histories.
Crop |
Varieties Released |
Year Started |
|---|---|---|
|
Oats |
34 |
1890 |
|
Spring wheat |
61 |
1892 |
|
Flax |
34 |
1894 |
|
Durum |
63 |
1929 |
|
Potato |
36 |
1930 |
|
Barley |
26 |
1946 |
|
Winter wheat |
10 |
1970 |
|
Dry edible beans |
28 |
1980 |
|
Soybeans |
43 |
1986 |
|
Pulse crops |
6 |
2007 |
A number of other varieties have also been released across crops, in some cases with no formal breeding program, such as Westhope crambe or ND Dylan winter rye. The total number of commodity crop varieties developed by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station is now over 350. Several buildings on campus have been named after NDSU plant breeders, including H.L. Bolley, L.R. Waldron, and B. Wiidakas, who left behind a true legacy in North Dakota's agricultural history.
See Ceres This Summer
All of NDSU's Research Extension Centers have planted Ceres across the state next to modern varieties. It will be showcased at Field Days in July, and everyone is welcome. For more information about Ceres and NDSU plant breeding, visit the website commemorating the 100-year anniversary.
-- Academic Affairs: Haley Hamel