Photo of Brett Carver in a wheat field. — Oklahoma State University Wheat Breeder Brett Carver gets a firsthand look at ongoing variety trials. Carver will be among the featured speakers at the May 14 Lahoma Wheat Field Day. (Photo by Todd Johnson, OSU Agricultural Communications Services)

Lahoma Wheat Field Day set for May 14

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Media Contact: Donald Stotts | Agricultural Communications Services | 405-744-4079 | donald.stotts@okstate.edu

The Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources’ Lahoma Wheat Field Day on May 14 will give growers an opportunity to evaluate new, improved varieties for possible use.

The popular annual event will take place at the OSU North Central Research Station west of Lahoma, which itself is situated just west of Enid on Highway 60. There is no cost to attend, but online pre-registration is required. Program sessions will begin at 9 a.m. and run through the morning.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines will be followed, including social distancing and face masks, said Amanda de Oliveira Silva, OSU Extension small grains specialist.

“Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided to attendees, and we’re also making a livestream available through YouTube,” she said. “The field day has long been a premier event for helping wheat growers and allowing them to ask questions directly of OSU experts and interact with other farmers and ranchers who might have similar operational goals and challenges.”

Participants will be split into groups and taken through the research station to talk with OSU experts along the way. Sessions and those leading them include:

Wheat Genetics Chair Brett Carver — insights and updates about ongoing wheat breeding efforts. For many years, the five most popular varieties of wheat planted in Oklahoma have been those developed by the OSU Wheat Improvement Team, operating under the auspices of OSU Ag Research.
Wheat Pathologist Bob Hunger — the latest wheat disease updates for Oklahoma. Long a popular speaker at the annual events, Hunger will be retiring this summer after a 39-year-career with OSU Extension.
Weed Science Specialist Misha Manuchehri — taking advantage of integrated weed management when growing wheat.
Silva — the latest research-based information about key aspects of various wheat varieties.

For more information about the event, contact OSU Extension Area Agronomy Specialist Josh Bushong at josh.bushong@okstate.edu or by phone at 580-237-7677.

Carver, Manuchehri and Silva are faculty members in the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Hunger is a faculty member in the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Wheat is Oklahoma’s largest cash crop, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service data. Oklahoma producers plant more than 4 million acres of wheat annually.