By Andi Anderson
The Michigan Wheat Program (MWP), in partnership with Michigan State University (MSU), has released the results of the 2026 MSU Wheat Performance Trials. The trials have been conducted for more than 31 years and continue to provide growers with valuable information on wheat variety performance, disease resistance, and grain quality.
For the past 14 years, the Michigan Wheat Program has supported the trials through funding and resources. The research is an important part of the organization's efforts to help farmers improve yields, enhance grain quality, and make informed planting decisions.
The Wheat Performance Trials are led by Dr. Eric Olson, MSU wheat breeder, and Dennis Pennington, MSU wheat systems specialist. The trials evaluate both commercial and experimental wheat varieties under Michigan growing conditions to determine how they perform across different environments.
The 2026 trials included 129 wheat varieties, consisting of 52 commercially available varieties and 77 experimental lines. These entries were supplied by 10 seed companies along with the MSU wheat breeding program. Testing took place at MSU research farms and private farm locations across several Michigan counties, providing a broad view of variety performance under varying weather and soil conditions.
“Breeders at MSU and in private business are constantly developing new wheat varieties that could provide many benefits to the Michigan wheat farmer,” said Jeffery Krohn, Michigan Wheat Program chairman and wheat farmer from Owendale. “The trial data gives producers early information on how that new variety will perform in the field in multiple locations with slightly different Michigan weather and soil types, but grown under the same cultural practices. Observing a few years’ data, we get an idea of what variety we think might work for our own farms – before we make 2026-2027 planting decisions.”
A new feature has been introduced for growers this year. According to Dennis Pennington, MSU wheat systems specialist, the trial data will be available not only as a PDF report but also in Excel format, making it easier for farmers to compare varieties and sort information based on their management needs.
“A new tool to assist wheat growers in considering and selecting among new varieties is being introduced this year,” said Pennington. “The 2026 Wheat Performance Trials will be available as a pdf as usual, but also available in Excel format. This allows growers to search and sort through the information and make comparisons to select the best varieties for their farm and their management style.”
The Michigan Wheat Program believes these trials are essential for driving productivity improvements. Jody Pollok-Newsom, executive director of the Michigan Wheat Program, emphasized the importance of investing in research and high-management production practices.
“Our Board invests in this research to keep our industry actively growing its yields and improving quality. High management and new varieties are key to the higher per-acre yields that Michigan wheat farmers are seeing in the last decade.”
Researchers also reported weather challenges during the 2025-2026 growing season, including dry fall conditions, limited tillering, and some spring ponding. However, disease pressure remained low, and Fusarium head blight was minimal.
Experts recommend using at least three years of trial data when choosing wheat varieties. By reviewing performance across locations and seasons, growers can identify varieties that offer consistent results and are best suited to their farms. The 2026 trial results will serve as an important resource for Michigan wheat producers as they prepare for future planting seasons.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ygrek
Categories: Michigan, Sustainable Agriculture