Learn about upcoming wheat varieties at Kansas Wheat Day, May 26

Kansas wheat farmers are invited to Hays, Kansas, on Thursday, May 26, for Kansas Wheat Day, hosted by the KSU Ag Research Center.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the auditorium with coffee and rolls provided by the Kansas Wheat Alliance. The events will last from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and primarily consist of a Wheat Variety Tour and presentations. Lunch, following the presentations, is sponsored by the Kansas Wheat Commission and will be provided to all participants. A complete schedule can be found at www.wkarc.org.

Bob Gillen, Department Head of the Tri-Center Operations for the Western Kansas Agricultural Research Center, will welcome participants to Kansas Wheat Day. Gillen specializes in rangeland management and has experience working with animal, plant and soil scientists.

“Attendees will be able to view and compare all of the leading wheat varieties in Kansas side-by-side, hear the latest information on managing herbicide-resistant weeds, and they will see demonstrations of wheat yields under different tillage treatments and nitrogen fertilizer rates,” explained Gillen.

The Wheat Variety Tour will be directed by Dr. Guorong Zhang, KSU Wheat Breeder. Zhang achieved his Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics and has used his degree in teaching, research and variety development. Farmers will have the opportunity to interact with wheat breeders and hear about potential new K-State wheat variety releases from the Kansas Wheat Alliance.

Phillip Stahlman, Western Kansas Ag Research Center Weed Scientist, is scheduled to speak about “Weed Management in Wheat-based Cropping Systems.” Stahlman had been in charge of research for weed management in dryland cropping systems, and also focuses on weed-crop interactions.

“Tillage Effects and Nitrogen Application” will be given by Augustine Obour, Western Kansas Ag Research Center Soil Scientist, who has an expertise in soil and nutrient management with an emphasis in tillage and nutrient management interactions in dryland cropping systems.

Robert Aiken, Plant Physiologist at the Western Kansas Ag Research Center, will present “Utilizing UAS Imaging Capacity in Wheat Breeding Programs.” Aiken has a Ph.D. in Soil Biophysics and has focused on water-limited cropping at the Northwest Research-Extension Center.

Dr. J.P. Michaud, Entomologist at K-State Agricultural Research Center in Hays, will present the topic of the “Emerging Issue with Wheat Stem Sawfly.”  His background knowledge in insect ecology, insect behavior, and biological control – particularly with aphids, will greatly support his topic.

In conjunction with Kansas Wheat Day, the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers will hold a board meeting on May 25. The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers is a member-governed organization representing wheat growers in planning legislation, advising government and international agencies on matters affecting wheat, and providing grass-roots leadership to the U.S. wheat industry.

Also on Wednesday, a U.S. Wheat Associates Quality trade team will travel to Hays to meet with wheat breeders and grain handlers. Members of the trade team from Israel, Japan, Korea, Nigeria and Taiwan will present wheat quality targets for their respective countries. They will meet with wheat breeders from Kansas State University, Colorado State University and USDA Agricultural Research Service. 

Make plans now to attend Kansas Wheat Day on May 26 in Hays, Kansas. The events are located at the K-State Agricultural Research Center – Hays, 1232 240th Ave, Hays, KS 67601. Attendees are asked to RSVP to Milissa Alexander at 785-625-3425 or milissa@ksu.edu. For additional information about the Field Day, please contact Guorong Zhang, Wheat Breeder, at gzhang@ksu.edu.

by Alex Lessard, Kansas Wheat Alliance Communications Intern

 

Kansas Wheat Day May 26, 2016 K- State Agricultural Research Center-Hays 1232 240th Ave, Hays, KS 67601 The KSU Ag Research Center will be hosting the Kansas Wheat Day on May 26th, 2016.

Field Day Schedule: 8:30  Registration at Auditorium --- Coffee, drinks, and donuts available (Sponsored by Kansas Wheat Alliance) 9:00  Opening Remarks --- Bob Gillen, WKARC Department Head 9:15  Wheat Variety Tour --- Guorong Zhang, WKARC Wheat Breeder 10:15  Weed Management in Wheat-based Cropping Systems---Phillip Stahlman, WKARC Weed Scientist 10:40  Tillage Effects and Nitrogen Application --- Augustine Obour, WKARC Soil Scientist 11:00  Utilizing UAS Imaging Capacity in Wheat Breeding Programs --- Robert Aiken, WKARC Plant Physiologist 11:30  Emerging Issue with Wheat Stem Sawfly --- JP Michaud, KSU Entomologist 12:00  Lunch --- Sponsored by Kansas Wheat Commission 01:00  Dismiss