We talk with Dr Brett Carver, wheat breeder at Oklahoma State University, about the unique challenges of the 2024 wheat crop in the southern Great Plains. The early and severe outbreak of stripe rust disease, which Carver calls the "worst" he's seen, sets the stage for a candid conversation about the complexities of wheat breeding.

Despite the significant disease pressure, some areas achieved remarkable yields. Carver also reflects on how this challenging season offers valuable insights for the breeding program, describing it as a "gift" for identifying varieties with allseason resistance to stripe rust.

The need for fusarium head blight resistance and the potential role of a newly released scab-resistant line

"Butler's Gold" variety's early maturity and its significance for double-cropping systems

Breeding targets, including harder wheat kernels with improved gluten and higher fiber content for health-conscious consumers

Efforts to increase the fiber content of milled wheat flour and changing consumer perceptions toward wheat

The timing of grazing for dual-purpose wheat and the potential for dedicated dual-purpose varieties

Breeding for disease resistance beyond stripe rust, such as Septoria nodorum

(00:00) - Introduction to the episode and guests, focusing on wheat research and variety development.

(00:38) - Harvest updates: impressive yields in some areas, while others suffered due to weather conditions.

(02:46) - The impact of timely planting on crop success, with corn and soybeans benefiting from early starts.

(04:20) - The challenges of weather conditions, and how they influenced wheat harvest.

(06:07) - The importance of fungicide applications and their impact on wheat yields.

(09:16) - January and February decisions on nitrogen applications and their outcomes in 2024.

(11:14) - Recall of previous challenging years for wheat, including 2012 and 2015, and the lessons learned.

(13:21) - The unique challenges of 2024, with both stripe and leaf rusts affecting wheat crops.

(15:07) - The need for wheat varieties with improved disease resistance, and the role of breeding.

(17:28) - The value of challenging years like 2024 for wheat breeding programs and future planning.

(19:30) - The benefits of diverse cropping and their impact on wheat variety determination.

(22:02) - The release of a new scab-resistant wheat variety and the potential for increased fusarium.

(24:21) - The role of cropping systems in determining future wheat varieties and their characteristics.

(27:00) - The success of short-season wheat in changing growers' approaches to rotations.

(29:13) -The accidental discovery of Butler's Gold, a short-season wheat variety, and its impact.

(31:13) - Strategies for managing late spring freezes and their influence on wheat maturity.

(33:12) - The potential for a new dual-purpose wheat variety, focusing on grazing ability.

(35:38) - The issue of determining the optimal grazing period for wheat and the need for precision.

(37:08) - Future plans for wheat breeding, including focusing on beyond-the-fence qualities.

(39:41) - The potential for breeding high-yielding, high-quality wheat with improved fiber content.

(42:32) - Conclusion and thanks to the guests, leaving the audience with a positive outlook.

RedDirtAgronomy.com