Variety selection is one of the most important decisions that a grower can make to ensure success on their farm. Now is the time when wheat producers across Kansas are reviewing yield data and making decisions about the varieties they will plant in the fall. Although yield is always a top priority, disease, and insect resistance, along with appropriate agronomic traits, can buffer against crop losses. In addition, genetic resistance to diseases and insect pests can be the most effective, economical, and environmentally sound method for control.
The Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2026 from K-State Extension, will soon be released. Agronomic characteristics, disease, and pest resistance information are included, as well as profiles that highlight some more common or new varieties for the state of Kansas. Ratings in this publication represent results from field and greenhouse evaluations by public and private wheat breeders and researchers at multiple locations over multiple years.
A few other resources available to assist farmers with wheat variety selection is the Kansas Wheat Variety Performance Tests that are conducted around the state at K-State Experiment Stations and in other locations. These variety performance tests are replicated, each variety is randomly planted three or four times in different locations in the field to increase accuracy of the yield data. That information along with all the other resources referenced in this article can be accessed from our Cottonwood Extension District web site at www.cottonwood.ksu.edu click onto the “Crops and Livestock” button then click onto “Test Plot Results” tab for local variety test plot information. To reference the KS. Wheat Variety Guide and Wheat Trials Database click back to the Crops and Livestock page and scroll down to “Hot Topics.”
The Wheat Trials Database under Hot Topics is a decision tool that provides complete access to variety information and data from university variety trials in Colorado and several other Great Plains states including Kansas. The database also includes private company trial data (Limagrain Cereal Seeds, Syngenta-Agripro). The database may be used to find up-to-date wheat variety information, display data from individual trial locations, generate summaries across multiple trial locations and years, and generate head-to-head comparisons for varieties of interest. For example, you can do a multiple location trail summary over multiple years and click the regions of Kansas you want, and then with a click of a button you have that information summary before you. It is a powerful and easy tool to use!
Fall Field Day Announced for Hays Agricultural Research Center - Aug. 26
Registration begins at 8 a.m., with field tours starting at 9 a.m. Presentations will address nitrogen management, enhanced-efficiency fertilizers and biostimulants in grain sorghum; sorghum weed and disease management, crop productivity/systems, profitability and soil health in integrated crop-livestock systems; pearl millet forage value; finishing beef cattle research; and residual herbicide programs. Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. Registration is appreciated https://wkrec.org/events/
Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.