Michigan Wheat Program Releases 2025 Wheat Trial Results

By Andi Anderson

The Michigan Wheat Program, in partnership with Michigan State University (MSU), has released the 2025 Wheat Performance Trial results. These trials have been a trusted source of information for over three decades, helping farmers choose the best wheat varieties for their fields.

For the past 13 years, the Michigan Wheat Program has supported the trials with funding and resources to evaluate yield potential, disease resistance, and grain quality in both commercial and experimental wheat lines.

Directed by MSU wheat breeder Dr. Eric Olson and wheat systems specialist Dennis Pennington, the 2024–2025 trials tested 100 varieties at seven locations across Michigan.

The tested varieties included 55 commercially available lines and 45 experimental lines from 11 seed companies and MSU’s breeding program. Three trial sites could not be harvested this year due to field conditions.

Michigan Wheat Program chairman Jeffery Krohn said farmers eagerly await the annual report to guide their planting choices. “Bringing new wheat varieties to market and giving producers confidence in new seed lines has always been a priority,” he noted.

Executive director Jody Pollok-Newsom added that the trials are essential for improving yield and quality, which are core goals of the state’s wheat check-off program.

Experts recommend that farmers select varieties based on at least three years of trial data and consider results from multiple locations to ensure performance under different growing conditions. Choosing varieties that perform well near a farmer’s location is key to achieving consistent yields.

The full 13-page report is available on the Michigan Wheat Program’s website at miwheat.org, under News and Announcements or in the Research Results section, which also hosts previous years’ results.

The Michigan Wheat Program represents about 8,000 farmers across 78 counties and works to promote the wheat industry through research, education, and partnerships with seed suppliers, millers, end users, and consumers.

By funding projects like the MSU Wheat Performance Trials, the program continues to help Michigan growers make informed decisions and strengthen the state’s wheat sector.

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