OSU Wheat Field Day set for April 28 in Chickasha

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Talk about one-stop shopping: Wheat producers will be able to evaluate more than 45 varieties at the Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources’ Wheat Field Day in Chickasha on April 28.

The free and open-to-the-public field day will begin at 10 a.m. and run through the noon hour, taking place at the OSU South Central Research Station, located at 1105 E. Iowa St. just west of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, a half mile south of Highway 62 on the eastern edge of Chickasha.

“This is an unparalleled opportunity for growers to evaluate all wheat varieties in the replicated performance trial, compare them to others and what they have growing, and even get new ideas about wheat varieties they may want to try in the future,” said Heath Sanders, OSU Cooperative Extension area agronomist.

In Grady County alone, there were 81,000 acres planted to wheat in 2016, approximately half of which were also harvested for grain as part of dual-purpose graze-and-grain operations. Overall, Oklahoma ranks as the nation’s 4th-leading producer of winter wheat.

“Given that level of investment, it is important for state wheat growers to know about available varieties, both from a grain and forage perspective,” said Michael Pettijohn, OSU South Central Research Station senior superintendent. “Remember, these varieties have been performance tested at the station, grown under soil and climatic conditions present in this part of the state.”

Pettijohn added participants will hear from and be able to ask questions of and interact with OSU experts who will provide research-based insights about improved varieties and best management practices relative to getting the most out of one’s wheat crop.

Field day sessions will be led by experts Brian Arnall, OSU Cooperative Extension precision nutrient management specialist; Dave Marburger, OSU Cooperative Extension small grains specialist; and Brett Carver, OSU Wheat Genetics Chair and leader of the university’s Wheat Improvement Team.

The top five wheat varieties planted in Oklahoma last year were all developed by the OSU Wheat Improvement Team.

“Participants also will have an opportunity to speak with other producers who may be in situations quite similar to their own, and who may have practical insights of their own to share, neighbor to neighbor,” Pettijohn said.

The field day lunch will likewise be provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the lunch sponsor, Oklahoma Ag Credit.

The OSU South Central Research Station is part of the statewide Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system, the official research arm of DASNR with experiment stations and facilities located across the state to allow scientific studies of crops and other agricultural endeavors to be done under local conditions, thereby providing the most relevant and timely information to producers in those areas.

Anyone seeking additional information about the April 28 OSU Wheat Field Day in Chickasha should contact Pettijohn by phone at 405-224-4476.