Farmers will get their first look at new wheat varieties during Washington State University’s upcoming crop tour.

“There’s been a slew of newly named varieties,” said Clark Neely, cereal variety testing program lead. “There’s just a lot of new material for growers to look at.”

WSU’s program has released the Pacific Northwest crop tour schedule. Tours are June 1-30.

On a recent drive through the state, Neely observed “quite a bit of” snow mold and cold damage, particularly along Highway 2.

“And that’s not even including our site in Douglas County, which is still under 10 inches of snow,” he said. “Everybody’s kind of anticipating that that trial’s going to get hit hard by snow mold. It’s probably just going to be the four or five varieties we know have good tolerance, and everything else is going to almost be dead.”

Neely expects snow and freeze damage to influence variety rankings this year. Plants can recover, depending on the severity, but some varieties will definitely be affected, he said.

“We haven’t had a bad snow mold year in a while now,” he said. “I think a lot of people will be interested to see how varieties handle that.”

Stripe rust is expected to be low to moderate on susceptible varieties this year.

According to Neely, it’s too soon to predict insect pressure.

“Our spring planting is running at least two weeks behind schedule this year, between snow and the cold temps,” he said. “That may or may not influence results a little bit. Stuff that’s earlier might be favored a little bit more, (and) avoid some of the heat stress later this summer.”

This year the schedule also includes tentative dates for canola field tours. 

If farmers can’t attend field days, Neely encourages them to take a self-guided tour. Maps and variety data are available on WSU’s Small Grains website. 

Ratings have been added and updated on the website, including variety performance for aluminum tolerance, acidic soils, emergence, cold tolerance and straw strength/lodging.

June 1

Horse Heaven, 10 a.m. Contact: Clark Neely 814-571-5628

Connell, 5 p.m. Contact: Aaron Esser 509-659-3210

June 2

Adams County, 3 pm. Contact: Aaron Esser

June 13

Moses Lake, 8 a.m. Contact: Andy McGuire, 509-754-2011 ext. 4323

Pendleton, Ore. (Oregon State University and USDA ARS), 8 a.m. Contact: Debbie Sutor, 541-278-4405

June 14

Harrington, 10:30 a.m. Contact: Aaron Esser

Moro, Ore., 8 a.m. Contact: Debbie Sutor

June 15

Lind Field Day, 8:30 a.m. Contact: Samantha Crow, 509-677-3671

June 16

Douglas County, 4 p.m. Contact: Dale Whaley, 509-888-6352

Tentative: Douglas County Canola Stop, time TBD. Contact: Karen Sowers, 808-283-7013

June 20

Fairfield, 7 a.m. Contact: Clark Neely

June 21

Reardan, 9 a.m. Contact: Aaron Esser

Almira, 3 p.m. Contact: Aaron Esser

Lewiston, Idaho (University of Idaho Extension), time TBD. Contact: Doug Finkelnburg, 208-799-3096

June 22

WSU Potato Field Day, 9 a.m. Othello. Contact: Mark Pavek, 509-335-6861

Mayview, 10 a.m. Contact Mark Heitstuman, 509-243-2009

Tentative: Pomeroy Canola Stop, time TBD. Contact: Karen Sowers

Tentative: Dayton Canola Stop, time TBD. Contact: Karen Sowers

June 23

Eureka (WSU/OSU), 9 a.m. Contact: Clark Neely

Walla Walla (WSU/OSU), 1 p.m. Contact: Clark Neely

Tentative: Walla Walla Canola Stop, time TBD. Contact: Karen Sowers

June 26

Western Wheat Workers Field Tour (OSU), 9 a.m. Contact: Debbie Sutor

Dayton, 10 a.m. Contact: Clark Neely

June 27

Genesee, Idaho (UI), 9 a.m. Contact: Doug Finkelnburg

St. John, 10 a.m. Contact: Clark Neely

June 28

Farmington, 10 a.m. Contact: Clark Neely

Pullman, 2:30 p.m. Contact: Clark Neely

Tentative: Pullman Canola Stop, 6 p.m. Contact: Karen Sowers

June 29

Camas Prairie, Idaho (UI), 7 a.m. Contact: Audra Cochran, 208-937-2311

Wilke Farm Field Day, Davenport, Wash., 8:30 a.m. Contact: Aaron Esser

Bickleton, 1 p.m. Contact: Hannah Brause, 509-773-5817

June 30

Bonners Ferry, Idaho (UI), 10 a.m. Contact: Amy Robertson, 208-267-3235

https://smallgrains.wsu.edu/variety/