Weather conditions during the trial season presented several challenges.
The Michigan Wheat Program and Michigan State University (MSU) have released the 2026 Wheat Performance Trial results, providing growers with important information to help guide future wheat planting decisions. The trials have been conducted for more than three decades and continue to serve as a valuable resource for farmers looking to improve crop performance and profitability.
The research evaluates wheat varieties for yield potential, disease resistance, grain quality, and overall field performance. The program helps growers compare commercial and experimental wheat varieties under real farming conditions. Researchers conducted the trials at MSU research farms and private farm locations across several Michigan counties during the 2025-2026 growing season.
“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.
He added, “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.”
This year's study included 129 wheat varieties, made up of 52 commercially available varieties and 77 experimental lines. The varieties were supplied by multiple seed companies and the MSU wheat breeding program. The broad range of entries allowed researchers to assess how different wheat lines perform under varying environmental conditions.
The trial results offer farmers an opportunity to review detailed performance data before selecting seed for upcoming planting seasons. Researchers emphasize that growers should study multiple years of trial results when choosing varieties, as long-term data provides a more reliable picture of performance across different weather and field conditions.
A new feature introduced this year makes the information even more accessible. In addition to the traditional PDF report, the results are also available in Excel format. This allows growers to sort, filter, and compare data more easily to match their farm goals and management practices.
Weather conditions during the trial season presented several challenges, including dry conditions in the fall and early winter. However, researchers reported generally low disease pressure and good overwintering conditions. These factors provided useful insights into how different wheat varieties responded to changing environmental conditions.
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