The annual membership meeting was held virtually on March 17, 2021. Presentations from Dr. Romulo Lollato, KSU Extension Wheat Specialist; Dr. Allan Fritz, KSU Wheat Breeder; and Dr. Guorong Zhang, KSU Wheat Breeder, were recorded and are linked below. Read More
A little more than 100 years ago, wheat breeding was in its infancy. Individuals were selecting some plants out of landrace populations that they thought looked superior and then reproducing the seed. A few trained botanists at government agencies or universities were experimenting with cross pollination to capture desirable… Read More
This week, Kansas Wheat Alliance announced an overall new look to their current brand, as well as the launch of a new website to better accommodate growers and associates when considering KWA seed varieties and dealers. The newly designed logo, marketing materials and website are reflective of research and survey… Read More
Kansas Wheat Alliance will market three new wheat varieties to farmers in the fall of 2020. All varieties offer improved disease resistance, drought resistance and yield potential. Two of the varieties are hard red winter wheats and one is white. The varieties were developed by the Kansas State University Hays Breeding Program. Read More
Wheat varieties with diverse sets of highly-desired traits are widely available to growers these days making it easier to pinpoint the best fit for their operation, even on a field-to-field basis. These new varieties are constantly pushing the envelope in critical areas like yield and disease resistance but.. Read More
Kansas, along with numerous other states across the United States, was dealt severe rainfall and abnormal weather conditions this spring and early summer. The rainfall and cool temperatures invited a breeding ground for various diseases, most notably Fusarium head blight (head scab). Head scab can cause significant yield loss and grain quality reduction Read More
There could be a looming threat of a stem rust outbreak in Kansas, according to Erick DeWolf, Kansas State University Extension plant pathologist and professor in the Department of Plant Pathology. DeWolf spoke about the possibility of a stem rust outbreak at the 2019 Kansas Seeds and Crops Conference. Stem… Read More
Wheat growers in western Kansas may have an opportunity in upcoming years to grow durum varieties thanks to the Kansas State University Wheat Breeding Program. Although durum is not traditionally grown in Kansas because it is normally a spring wheat, Andy Auld, assistant agronomist, and Dr. Allan Fritz, professor and… Read More
In wheat seed, size matters As wheat drilling season is upon us, producers are making management decisions that will affect the performance of their crop. Economics always play a role, but many farmers are really scrutinizing their costs due to the current commodity market. As the Good Book says, ‘you… Read More
Agricultural technicians are an integral part of the wheat breeding program The Kansas State University Agriculture Research Center in Hays has been a pioneer in wheat development for years. Dr. T. Joe Martin, former wheat breeder at the station, paved the way for future breeders like Dr. Guorong Zhang, the… Read More