Delbert Knerr is excited about this year's University of Missouri Variety Trial Program wheat harvest data. This year the MU researcher will glean information from high-production wheat grower Warren Hale, who farms in Audrain and Callaway counties.

In years past, Hale has grown wheat that reaches 120 to 130 bushels per acre in some fields. "He is consistent at growing over-100-bushel wheat," says Knerr, who heads up the university program. "We are excited to work with him and learn about his production practices and techniques."

MU planted 64 wheat varieties at Hale's plot near Bachelor. He will be using management-intensive production practices for his on-farm trial. "Warren will be spraying and fertilizing like he normally does on all of his wheat acres," Knerr says.

REPLICATION: Each private wheat variety is planted three times across a section of Warren Hale's field. While it can be cumbersome, Hale says it is nice to see how this year's 64 varieties will perform on his farm.

The MU wheat trials are extensive. Hale replicates each variety three times across an area of the field. "We are trying to see what works and what does not," Hale says. "It is nice to have the ability to see which varieties work on my own farm."

"This is a win-win for everybody," Knerr adds. "We hope to learn a lot from Warren's plot this year."