Figure 1. UNL Wheat breeder Stephen Baenziger and Assistant Professor Teshome Regassa present at the 2013 Wheat Tour in Saline County.

Growers can learn about the latest wheat varieties and view many of them in the field at a June 12 wheat tour near Wilber.  The event, sponsored by UNL Extension, will begin at 6:30 p.m. in a wheat variety plot hosted by Dennis Broz.

Stephen Baenziger, UNL professor and wheat breeder, will discuss wheat variety options for southeast Nebraska and characteristics of wheat cultivars in the plot.  There are 28 wheat varieties and experimentals in the plot, according to Teshome Regassa, UNL research assistant professor.

Guest speaker Ray Ward, soil scientist and owner of Ward Laboratories, Kearney, will provide the latest nutrient management information for wheat and a fresh soil pit will be dug on-site to better demonstrate soil health and soil carbon impacts of wheat in rotation with no-till farming. 

Stephen Wegulo, UNL extension plant pathologist, will discuss the spread of wheat diseases in southern Nebraska and the yield effects of foliar diseases of wheat and fungicide application strategies. 

UNL Extension Educator Randy Pryor said attendees can count on unbiased, research-based information from University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension at field events such as the wheat variety plot tour. Many participants discover new knowledge and ideas and meet other farmers striving for high yielding wheat as part of a crop rotation scheme. Several area agribusinesses are sponsoring refreshments, including kolaches, at the field site.

Site Location & Contact Information

Plot directions from Wilber:  Go 8 miles west on Highway 41 to Road 1400. Turn south on Road 1400, proceed 3 miles. Turn west on Road S, proceed ½ mile. 
Plot directions from the intersection of Highway 15 and Highway 74 (north of Western):  Turn east on Road T, proceed 2 miles. Turn north on Road 1300, proceed 1 mile.  Turn east on Road S, proceed ½ mile.

For more information about the tour, contact Randy Pryor at the UNL Extension Office in Saline County at 402-821-2151 or e-mail rpryor1@unl.edu or view the program flyer.