OSU Wheat Variety Trials Provide Valuable Data for Oklahoma Producers

Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Wheat Variety Trials continue to provide wheat producers and seed businesses with locally relevant performance data to support variety selection and production decisions across the state.

The trials have become an important resource for producers operating in different growing environments, offering comparative information on the performance of wheat varieties under local soil and climatic conditions. For farmers and seed dealers, this data can provide valuable guidance when determining which varieties may be best suited to their operations and customers.

In southwestern Oklahoma, wheat producer and certified seed wheat grower Fred Schmedt has been following the results of the OSU Wheat Variety Trials for decades. Schmedt and his brother operate a no-till farming operation near Altus, where they plant between 1,000 and 1,500 acres of wheat annually. Their operation includes OSU varieties such as Showdown, OK Corral and Butler’s Gold.

Schmedt has regularly followed the results from the Altus trial since the 1980s and attends the annual plot tour. The location is particularly relevant to his operation because its soil type is similar to much of the land he farms.

“We greatly utilize the OSU Wheat Variety Trials to help us decide which varieties we’re going to grow,” Schmedt said. “The Altus trial is on the same soil type as probably 80% of our land, so that information is really valuable to us.”

The trial results also play an important role in his certified seed business. Schmedt said some customers closely follow the annual results and contact him soon after the data becomes available, while the findings also provide a useful reference when advising customers who are seeking recommendations.

For smaller seed operations, independently generated trial data can be particularly valuable. Schmedt noted that his business does not have the labor resources to conduct its own variety trials on the same scale as larger certified seed wheat producers.

The OSU trials are designed to help address this need by providing performance information generated through university research rather than relying solely on individual farm observations or commercial recommendations.

Amanda Silva, OSU Extension small grains specialist, said the trials provide unbiased, local performance data that can help farmers identify varieties suited to specific regions. The information also supports seed dealers as they advise producers.

The relationship between researchers and producers is also contributing to the development of new research projects. According to Silva, discussions with producers such as Schmedt have helped identify practical challenges and research needs within Oklahoma’s wheat industry. One recent research project examining late-planted, short-season wheat originated from such a conversation.

This interaction reflects the broader role of OSU’s Extension and research programs, which combine field-based research with feedback from producers to address real-world production challenges.

OSU Agriculture is also planning to further expand its research capacity through the development of the Agronomy Discovery Center at the Agronomy Research Station. The planned facilities include a new headhouse, research greenhouse, and multipurpose classroom and laboratory building.

The project is intended to modernize research infrastructure and support future work in agronomy and crop production. Together with the Wheat Variety Trials, these investments highlight the role of university-led research in generating practical knowledge for Oklahoma’s wheat producers and seed industry.