An Oregon State University wheat expert hopes to help farmers make the best choices as they select which varieties to plant next.
Mike Flowers, extensions cereals specialist, and Bob Zemetra, wheat breeder, teamed up during the Pendleton Field Day June 11 at OSU's Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center.
Flowers walked the different varieties available to growers on the field day's demonstration plots, offering pros and cons of the options.
Flowers said growers often make their variety selection based on disease resistance, but can neglect other factors. He advises growers to plant a mix of wheat varieties for different attributes, including maturity. In wet, cool years, late-maturing varieties tend to perform better. In dry years, early-maturing varieties tend to be better, he said.