Lansing, Mich. (Aug. 6, 2025) – This just out, hot off the press! The Michigan State University 2025 Wheat Performance Trial results, supported in part by the Michigan Wheat Program, have just been released. For over 30 years, MSU has conducted Wheat Performance Trials. And for 13 years, the Michigan Wheat Program has provided funds and resources to provide growers with comparative yield, disease resistance and quality parameters for emerging new wheat varieties.
The Wheat Performance Trials are a key piece of the Michigan Wheat Program’s research agenda, and are directed by MSU wheat breeder Dr. Eric Olson and MSU wheat systems specialist Dennis Pennington.
Farmers planting wheat this fall should consult the Report to learn more about the commercial and experimental varieties tested in 2024-2025 at seven sites across Michigan. (Three sites could not be harvested this year.) This year’s trials included 100 wheat varieties, comprised of 55 commercially available and 45 experimental lines supplied from 11 seed companies and MSU’s wheat breeding program directed by Dr. Eric Olson.
“Bringing new wheat varieties to market and giving our producers a sense of confidence in new seed lines has been a consistent top priority for Michigan’s wheat farmers,” said Jeffery Krohn, Michigan Wheat Program chairman and wheat farmer from Owendale. “Wheat producers look forward to this report each summer to see which varieties performed well in the trials and might be planted on their own farms yet this year.”
Michigan Wheat Program executive director Jody Pollok-Newsom echoed the need to continue to evaluate new seed varieties. “Investing in this research helps our wheat growers keep advancing in yield and grain quality which were the founding principles for our check-off program,” said Pollok-Newsom. “It is a privilege to participate in this long-running robust trial of wheat varieties of specific interest to growers here in the Great Lakes State.”
Choosing varieties
Research experts caution that variety selection is best made using at least three years of data. Varieties selected using data across all locations and multiple years will likely perform well under a wide range of conditions; although performance of a given variety will vary based on testing location.
When selecting varieties for a specific farm, it’s important to identify seed lines that perform well near the location where the variety will be grown. The 2025 Michigan State Wheat Performance Trials can be an important tool in reviewing this information. The complete Report (13 pages) is available on the home page of miwheat.org under news and announcements. And also at miwheat.org by going to the Research Results tab and clicking on the High Management Results tab which not only has the 2025 report, but previous years, as well.
The Michigan Wheat Program is funded by 8,000 farmers who grow wheat in at least 78 Michigan counties. The MWP board seeks to promote the state’s wheat industry by funding and supporting the strategic priorities of wheat farmers working with input suppliers, seed producers, millers, end users and consumers. Research on wheat production practices and grower education has been an early priority for the organization.
Download 2025 Michigan State Wheat Performance Trials Report