To provide more options for diversification of sowing times, earlier soil covering, and double purpose crop system for farmers, the wheat cultivar BRS Figueira was released for the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2002 and for the center-south region of Paraná in 2003. It has a semilate cycle, with a longer emergency-heading period, what may increase the chances to escape to the frost damages. The methodology used in BRS Figueira selection, its agronomic and industrial quality characteristics, disease resistance, and agronomic performance in Rio Grande do Sul and southern-center of Paraná in the 1999-2001 period are described. In early sowings and double purpose trials (forage and grain yield) carried out over that period, BRS Figueira yielded 1,651 kg/ha of dry matter, 23% more than the Common black oat variety, in Passo Fundo, Cruz Alta, São Borja, Uruguaiana, Vacaria, Guarapuava, Castro, and Ponta Grossa average. In the same locations and period, it produced grain yields of 3,943 kg/ha and 3,062 kg/ha, in the " without clipping" and "with one clipping" treatments, respectively, 27% and 39% higher than the average of the two better wheats checks in each location (cultivars BR 23, BR 35, CEP 24, CEP 27, and OCEPAR 21).