Growing wheat to increase profitability for area growers explains a Kingfi sher County OSU Extension field demonstration plot a few miles northwest of Kingfisher.

Kingfisher County Extension Director/Agricultural Educator Bryan Kennedy started the test last year on a one-acre plot.

The plot is located on the farm of Danny Struck north of County Road East 770 about two-and-a-half miles west of U.S. Highway 81.

Kennedy returned to the same tract with a more specifi c variety study this year.

He plans a field day in April, including a breakfast, for county farmers and others interested when the test plot will be visited and results discussed. (Note: See chart on Page 5 for greater detail on the 202425 test.)

Yields and other details will be reported after the test plot is harvested, also using a small harvester designed specifically to separate the wheat by variety.

Last year’s test featured 34 varieties.

This year’s plot has 25 varieties from a number of breeders including: Oklahoma State University, OSU Experimental, Kansas Wheat Alliance, Westbred and Plains Gold.

The test plot covers such things as fertilizer application, seeding rates, planting dates and yields, plus moisture and test weights, in addition to variety yields.

Kennedy seeded the test plot on Nov. 17 – a date indicative of a crop planned for grain harvest only.

It began with a pre-planting application of 100 pounds per acre of 19-1919 (nitrogen-potassium and phosphorus) fertilizer and planted at 120 pounds of seed per acre.

The test plot varieties were planted south to north in eight row patterns with a space between each variety to provide convenient inspection.

Kennedy planted the plot with West District Area Agronomist Josh Bushong, using miniature equipment provided by the area office. The miniature test plot harvesting machine will also come from the West District Agronomist’s equipment warehouse.

Test varieties on the plot this year include: • From OSU – Smith’s Gold, Doublestop CL, Orange Blossom CL, OK Corral, Green Hammer, Showdown, High Cotton and Paradox;

• From Kansas Wheat Alliance — KS Providence;

• From Plains Gold — Kivari AX;

• From Westbred — WB 4347, WB 4792, WB 4445 CL, WB 4739 AX, WB 4459 AX;

• From OSU Experimental — OK20708, OK21DTR1705-91, OK23D89031X and OK23D89055X; Kansas – Rockstar, Paradise, Golden Hawk, with the following varieties planted at 60 pounds per acre – Rockstar, Golden Hawk and WB 4459 AX — rather than the 120 pounds per acre for the rest.

Kennedy said some of the varieties are closely related, possibly with only one gene difference. Tests are designed to reveal types that perform best in this part of the state as well as identifying most profitable farming practices..

Identifying signs will be installed at the front of each variety’s test plot.

The 2024-25 test plot was harvested late because of wet conditions, likely resulting in reduced yields and test weights than might have been produced if the plot could have been harvested at the optimum time, Kennedy said.