On-Farm Trials and Outreach

Extending the information and results generated by the U of M researchers working on spring wheat and barley continues to be instrumental in helping producers manage FHB.  The On-Farm Yield Trials are an opportunity for producers to see the new, scab resistant varieties, like U of M newest release ‘Tom’, first hand during summer plot tours, giving producers a better handle on how these new varieties fit into their production system.

Likewise, the historic market highs have sparked interest in spring wheat in parts of the state that have seen little if any wheat production in the last decade or two. In cooperation with local and regional extension educators, I just completed a series of six meetings in the southern half of the state that focused on sound agronomic practices to allow not only for spring wheat to be produced profitably but also to avoid potential disasters with FHB and the associated grain quality discounts due to presence of DON.

-- Dr. Jochum Wiersma, U of M small grains specialist.