By Jenny Carleo
Are you looking for varieties that will produce milling quality wheat?
NC State research results can help farmers identify varieties that have the potential to produce superior grain quality suitable for the milling wheat market. Here are a few important things to consider when selecting which varieties to plant in 2026:
1. Head Scab and Vomitoxin Prevention Starts Now
Plant Varieties with Resistance
This is the most cost-effective and reliable way to reduce Fusarium Head Scab (FHB). Fungicides are only partially effective. Varieties in the NC Wheat Official Variety Test (OVT) are screened in a scab nursery where Fusarium and irrigation are applied to simulate an FHB epidemic. The varieties are classified as moderately resistant (MR), moderately susceptible (MS), or susceptible (S). We recommend that you plant as much acreage as possible in MR varieties. If your wheat is planted no-till, selecting MR varieties becomes even more important.
Below are the head scab ratings performed by Dr. Christina Cowger, Small Grains Pathologist, USDA-ARS, of all of the varieties included in the NC OVT in 2025 and the resulting DON (vomitoxin) levels reported for each variety.
To read more about crop production methods of FHB prevention go here
Source : ncsu.edu