Award Recognizes Long Career Advancing Wheat Genetics for Farmers
The Texas Wheat Producers Board presented Jackie Rudd, Ph.D., with the inaugural Texas Wheat Legacy Award during the 2025 Texas Wheat Partners Dinner on December 2 in Amarillo.
The award honors individuals whose work has made a lasting impact on the Texas wheat industry.
Rudd serves as a wheat breeder with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and is a Regents Fellow and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
He works from the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Amarillo and has dedicated more than two decades to improving wheat production in Texas.
Texas Wheat leaders recognized Rudd for developing reliable wheat varieties that farmers trust year after year. His research focuses on breeding for drought tolerance, disease resistance, yield improvement, and strong bread-making quality. Many of his wheat varieties continue to shape production across Texas and surrounding states.
“Dr. Rudd’s legacy award underscores a body of work that exemplifies the mission of AgriLife Research,” said G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., director of AgriLife Research. “His remarkable career contributions continue to support thriving agriculture, natural resources, and abundant, affordable food and fiber products in Texas and beyond.”
Rudd leads the hard winter wheat breeding program for the High Plains and Rolling Plains of Texas. Since arriving in Texas, he has guided the release of 16 small-grain varieties, including hard red winter wheat, oats, and triticale.
Varieties such as TAM 112, TAM 113, TAM 114, and TAM 204 gained wide adoption due to traits like drought tolerance, rust resistance, and high yield potential. Newer releases continue to gain traction among producers.
“Dr. Rudd has a good understanding of the kinds of challenges farmers face every day and it shows through the wheat varieties he’s developed,” said Scott Born. “His dedication to improving wheat genetics has led to real solutions that will benefit farmers’ bottom lines for years to come.”
Rudd also has a long history of working with the Texas Wheat Producers Board and sharing research knowledge. Reflecting on his career, he said, “I can’t imagine a more rewarding career than serving the wheat producers of Texas.”