As farmers across the state review this year’s wheat variety trial results, they may not realize many of these entries are the result of their own investment in the Texas A&M AgriLife Wheat Breeding Program.
There are several reasons why public university breeding programs are pivotal to the development of high quality wheat varieties for farmers in their state and beyond. In Texas, these advancements are thanks to an extensive germplasm bank, experienced and dedicated scientists and a broad network of testing locations across the state. However, an often-overlooked strength of the program lies in something less immediately visible: farmer investment and buy-in.
Since the early days of the statewide wheat assessment, Texas farmers have consistently supported the breeding program through checkoff dollars. This commitment has fueled not only variety development, but also a range of side projects that enhance breeding success and contribute to farm profitability. According to the Texas Wheat Variety Survey, published annually by USDA NASS, several TAM varieties consistently rank among the most widely planted in Texas. The strength of the TAM varieties is directly related to farmer support through the statewide checkoff program.
“As a board, we know that we have to keep pushing the limit of what these varieties can do,” said Jody Bellah, a farmer from Throckmorton and chairman of the TWPB research committee. “Farmers are continually challenged to improve practices and manage the bottom line. We try to bring that same level of oversight to our investment in research programs and development of new wheat varieties.”
Farmers browsing trial results may notice several lines with names that are simply a combination of letters and numbers.These unique entries could be the next variety packed with the most current resistance package and top yield potential – but they must be put through extensive testing first. Breeding crosses that start in grow rooms and greenhouses eventually end up in field trials across the state.
Some of these experimental lines include “DH” in their list of characters. These lines are products of the Double Haploid program, which accelerates the breeding process by creating pure lines faster than traditional methods. This means farmers benefit from improved genetics and traits, such as enhanced drought tolerance or disease resistance, much sooner than traditional breeding timelines.
“Even with the use of Double-Haploids, it takes years to fully develop and test a new variety, which is too long when new challenges arise,” said Brandon Gerrish, Ph.D. Texas A&M AgriLife Small Grains and Cool-Season Oilseeds Specialist. “However, thanks to the genetic diversity of the programs, they were able to release two very good Hessian fly varieties in just two to three years.”
In 2018, the Texas Wheat Producers Board (TWPB) began investing checkoff funds for the development of the Double Haploid program in the state. Fast forward to 2024, and two TAM experimental lines derived from that program placed second and third in the Rolling Plains Regional Variety Testing Sites, proof that the investment is paying off.
As harvest progresses and farmers look toward fall planting decisions, they are encouraged to review both grain and forage trial results to identify varieties that best match their field conditions and management goals. These trials are not only useful tools to guide variety selection, but also a way for farmers to evaluate their return on investment in breeding and testing efforts.
This article was originally published in the May 2025 Producers News edition published in High Plains Journal. To see the full issue, visit the publications page.