Wheat Letter Blog Archive - Page 3 of 104

Laudeman Discusses Deregulation of Drought-Tolerant Wheat, Next Steps on RFD-TV’s ‘Market Day Report’

USDA’s ruling last month cleared the regulatory pathway for cultivation of HB4^® drought-tolerant wheat in the United States, but several steps remain before U.S. farmers are able to grow the trait commercially. USW Director of Trade Policy Peter Laudeman, who has had a close eye on USDA’s deregulation process – as well as the company responsible for the HB4^® trait – recently appeared on RFD-TV’s “Market Day Report” to discuss the situation and answer questions. Watch Laudeman’s appearance below . . .

September 17, 2024/by Ralph Loos

Plant Breeding Innovation, Sustainability, Wheat Research

Innovation to Meet Future Challenges – Ten Years Later

Editor’s Note: This article on wheat breeding innovation was originally published in the September 2014 issue of “Wheat Letter.” In the wake of the first deregulation of a biotechnology trait for wheat by USDA-APHIS, the article remains quite relevant ten years later. The article was written by then USW Vice President of Policy Shannon Schlecht.

If you have ever planted a garden, you know how much effort it takes to help your plants thrive — and how often the results do not match up with your expectations.

Now think about farmers facing similar challenges from insect, weed, and disease pests as well as too much or too little heat and rain. The stakes are much higher when it comes to producing food for 7.3 billion people and more every day*. A destructive virus decimated papaya production in Hawaii a few years ago. In Florida, citrus greening disease that blocks the flow of nutrients to the fruit now infects an estimated 80 percent of its orange trees. Entire industries are at risk.

Wheat farmers, too, battle such challenges. Intensive wheat production in Europe and parts of the United States could not produce yields reaching up to 10 metric tons or more per hectare without preventing disease with frequent fungicide applications each season. Although the UG99 rust strain generated global concerns, thankfully its worldwide impact to date has been much less than feared. Yet new threats will come as they always do. It is one reason why wheat farmers support innovative technology, including biotechnology, to help produce a more sustainable and affordable supply of food for the growing world.

“The wheat farmers who support innovation … greatly respect customer choice as well, but they also believe they will need every available tool to face future challenges and meet growing global needs.”

Conventional Breeding…

Scientists and breeders have been able to overcome many of these threats through conventional breeding. Crossing plants with known resistance to incorporate the desired traits into new varieties. Where genetic markers have been identified, marker-assisted selection (MAS) greatly improves the success rate of achieving those desired traits. Doubled haploid technology, which reduces the number of generations needed to stabilize a new variety, can help bring these traits to market quicker for tools against these challenges.

While these conventional techniques bring the desired traits into new varieties to address specific problems, they may also result in transferring genes that do not benefit the new variety. For example, a breeder may get rust resistance but lose another desired trait such as test weight or protein quality. Through many years and crosses, it is possible to minimize these outcomes, but time may not be a luxury in many cases to address a specific challenge.

…And Innovation

Modern biotechnology, however, is helping restore papaya production in Hawaii and research to resist citrus greening disease is underway (read more here). Concerned growers sparked the increase in research that led to these alternatives. Wheat farmers in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries have also stood up to say the world needs advances that improve yield, quality, production efficiency and sustainability. Private and public researchers responded and now they are using the full range of technology to find ways to achieve those long-term goals.

As with the citrus greening research, this increased investment in wheat is not limited to so-called GMO technology. Just this week, scientists at Washington State University announced they have identified a gene in wheat that regulates how the plant shares genetic information. The researchers said the discovery “clears the way for breeders to develop wheat varieties with the disease- and pest-resistance traits of other grasses, using a legion of genetic tools that can reduce crop losses and pesticide use.” This discovery likely will not require single gene transfer, but other research does center on the remarkable advancements in biotechnology. All these tools will help wheat breeders address specific challenges without altering other desirable characteristics of wheat and the flour it produces.

The wheat farmers who support innovation firmly believe that the new varieties created through any technology must ultimately meet regulatory requirements of the country that produces them and the countries that import them. They greatly respect customer choice as well, but they also believe they will need every available tool to face future challenges and meet growing global needs.

*Global population today has grown to more than 8.1 billion people.

September 12, 2024/by Steve Mercer

Plant Breeding Innovation, Sustainability, Wheat Research

Bioceres Affirms Commitment to U.S. Biotechnology Commercialization Principles

In its public statement following USDA’s deregulation of the HB4^® drought-tolerance trait from Bioceres Crop Science on Aug. 29, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) noted that it would continue monitoring how the company’s commercialization plans align with the “Wheat Industry Principles for Biotechnology Commercialization” developed jointly with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG).

USW was pleased to see the publicly traded company acknowledge that commitment in its Sept. 10 earnings call with investors.

Commercialization of wheat with the HB4 trait in the United States will take time, said Bioceres CEO Federico Trucco. In the call, Trucco said the process will follow “the guidance that was provided by the wheat industry associations, the U.S. Wheat Associates, and the National Association of Wheat Growers, that requires approvals in certain key geographies where wheat exports from the U.S. are relevant, as well as an effective way to identify HB4 presence in wheat shipments.”

Image shows U.S. farmers at a conference at Bioceres headquarters in Argentina to demonstrate careful engagement.

U.S. farmer leaders have engaged with Bioceres to emphasize the importance of adhering to wheat industry principles for biotechnology commercialization. This team of farmers and USW staff met with Bioceres in Argentina in January 2024.

Lots of Work to be Done

Also in the call, the company suggested that it will work with wheat industry participants, including public university breeding programs, to develop U.S. wheat varieties with the HB4 trait. Bioceres also indicated they will pursue broad licensing agreements as a commercialization strategy in the United States. Significant development work will be required before any wheat with the HB4 trait will be planted in the United States for commercial sale.

“There is still a lot of ground to cover with this technology and our organization will stay actively engaged in the proc.ess on behalf of our farmers and overseas customers,” said USW Director of Trade Policy Peter Laudeman in USW’s statement. “We appreciate the commitment that Bioceres is making to working with its wheat industry partners to ensure robust stewardship of this technology prior to commercial release.”

In addition to the “Principles” statement, USW and NAWG also developed a “Wheat Industry Biotechnology Position Statement.” It recognizes the promise of biotechnology research in wheat and supports the ability of wheat customers to make purchases based on specific traits, noting that “We commit ourselves to the principle that our customers’ needs are vitally important.”

September 12, 2024/by Steve Mercer

Wheat Industry News

News and Information from Around the World Wheat Industry

Speaking of Wheat

“The [wheat] market is very much a balance of what’s going on all around the world. You really have to have a higher-level view of what production is like in the Black Sea, Australia or South America. There’s more complication, there’s more moving pieces. … Every three or four months, somebody’s harvesting another crop of wheat. The puzzle’s constantly changing and you have to shift and fit it into the next variable as it comes down the road.” – Brian Liedl (photo above), Director of Merchandising, United Grain Corp, from an article in Capital Press.

Wheat Versus Bread Prices

At U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), we try to present the true effect of wheat and flour prices on end use products. We were pleased to see a recent, accurate assessment of a potential increase in French wheat prices given the weather-limited crop there in 2024. Thierry Pouch, chief economist of the French Chamber of Agriculture was quoted in an article in Politico EU saying, “The price of wheat and flour is only a small part of the total price of a baguette. For the moment, we don’t see large-scale movement in prices for consumers.” Read more here.

Oklahoma State University (OSU) to Create New Home for Wheat Breeding

OSU is creating a new Agronomy Discovery Center through upgrades to the existing Agronomy Research Station, home to one of the world’s top wheat breeding programs. The project received gifts of $5 million from Oklahoma Genetics Inc. and $1 million from USW member Oklahoma Wheat Commission. The two lead donations announced Aug. 9 will help launch a fundraising initiative as part of a multiphase upgrade process. Early priorities include constructing a new headhouse and 12 research greenhouses to be the birthplace of OSU’s new wheat lines. “Investments like this do not merely produce wheat for today; they ensure a better breed of Oklahoma wheat for tomorrow,” said OSU Regents professor and wheat geneticist Dr. Brett Carver. Read more here.

Representatives from the OSU Foundation, Oklahoma Genetics Inc. and the Oklahoma Wheat Commission join Dr. Kayse Shrum, OSU president (second from left), and Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture (far right) in launching the OSU Agronomy Discovery Center’s new fundraising initiative. Also participating were USW Director Don Schieber (center), Oklahoma Wheat Commission Executive Director Mike Schulte, and former executive director of Plains Grains Mark Hodges. Credit: ©Mitchell Alcala – OSU Agriculture.

Also at OSU…

USW offers best wishes to Oklahoma State University’s Kim Anderson who retired July 31 after 42 years providing grain marketing advice in person and through U.S. farm and business media to farmers. In a High Plains Journal article, Anderson said his views of grain marketing have evolved, with the major differences being price seasonality, more data and that farmers are marketing on a more global level than they were 40 years ago. Read more here.

Largest SRW State Seeking Checkoff

Illinois produces more soft red winter (SRW) than any other U.S. state. Members of the Illinois Wheat Association (IWA) are now circulating petitions to institute a wheat checkoff in the state, Brownfield News reports. Checkoffs approved by farmers and operated under state statutes establish wheat commissions that manage funds collected when wheat is first sold. Don Guinnip, with IWA, who farms in Marshall & Clark County, told Brownfield, “We need to be promoting wheat.” The petitions lead to a hearing with the state ag department and, IWA hopes, to a farmer referendum in 2025. Funding from 17 state wheat commission members of USW allows the organization to apply for export market development program funding. Read more here.

USDA Looks at Specific Price Increase Effects on Planted Acreage

USDA’s Economic Research Service recently released a study that examined the area planted for major U.S. row crops. The research went a step beyond previous studies by determining the degree by which a price increase or decrease would result in a change in planted acreage. Researchers determined that for every 1-percent increase in corn prices, corn acreage planted increases by 0.210 percent and soybean acreage planted declines by 0.115 percent. In 2023, a hypothetical 1,000-acre farm planted 373 (37.3 percent of its total area) acres of corn, 329 (32.9 percent) acres of soybeans, 195 (19.5 percent) acres of wheat, 40 (4.0 percent) acres of cotton, and 10 to 30 acres each of sorghum, barley, oats, and rice. If the price of corn for the next growing season increased 10 percent ($0.50 per bushel), the farm will increase corn area planted by 7 acres and decrease soybean area by about 5 acres. The remaining area would go to lower wheat, sorghum, and cotton acreage. Conversely, a 10 percent ($1.30 per bushel) increase in the price of soybeans will result in a 4-acre decrease in corn area and a 6-acre increase in soybeans. Read about the USDA study here.

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

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Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo and YouTube, and more on LinkedIn.

August 22, 2024/by Steve Mercer

Wheat Production and Harvest

Competitor Watch: Production is a Mixed Bag in the EU and Black Sea

As the Northern Hemisphere harvest progresses, more output and quality information has become available. Seen during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremonies, persistent rains have continued to hit crop growing areas in France (photo above, iStock) and Germany, influencing harvest quality and yields, while the drought impacts in central and southern Russia have had well documented impacts on yield potential. This analysis will assess the current state of wheat production in the EU and Black Sea regions and examine its effects on global exportable supplies.

Map of EU shows unusually heavy rainfall in 2024

Heavy rainfall has significantly affected EU production, notably in France and Germany. France’s wheat output is at 26.3 MMT, a 24% decrease from the five-year average. Germany production sits at 19.2 MMT, an 11% drop from last year’s 21.3 MMT. Source: USDA FAS

Rains Dampen European Harvest

The August 2024 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) decreased EU production by 2.0 MMT to 128.0 MMT, 5% below last year and the five-year average. According to FranceAgriMer, the French wheat crop sits at 26.3 MMT, down 24% from the five-year average and the lowest output in nearly 40 years. Looking at quality, early testing shows a lower test weight of 74-75 kg/hl while protein sits around 11% (dry matter basis). Stratégie Grains has assessed that just 72% of the harvest meets milling quality standards, a decrease from last year’s 84%.

In Germany, conditions were more favorable, but damp weather still affected planting and crop development. As a result, the Stratégie Grains estimates for German production sit at 19.2 MMT, down from 21.3 MMT last year. Similarly, Stratégie Grains expects a 9.4% decrease in Polish wheat production due to dry conditions in May and June. Of the major EU exporters, only Romanian wheat production holds strong at 10.3 MMT, according to Stratégie Grains. With decreased production in several key producers, USDA estimates put EU exports down 9% to 34.0 MMT.

Map of EU and Black Sea region show agricultural moisture conditions in 2024.

Dry conditions diminished yields throughout the Black Sea. SovEcon lowered their Russian wheat production estimates by 1.8 MMT to 82.9 MMT, in line with USDA estimates. Likewise, USDA put Ukrainian production at 21.6 MMT, a 1.4 MMT decrease from 2023/24. Source: JRC MARS Bulletin

Dryness in the Black Sea

The August WASDE kept the much-anticipated Russian wheat crop at 83.0 MMT, down 8.4 MMT from last year, weighed by the well documented influences of drought on yield potential. Likewise, SovEcon lowered their Russian wheat production estimates by 1.8 MMT to 82.9 MMT, in line with the USDA. Likewise, USDA put Ukrainian production at 21.6 MMT, a 1.4 MMT reduction from 2023/24 due to dry conditions.

Bar graph shows annual changes in exportable wheat supplies in the world from 2015/16 to 2024/25.

Despite a cumulative 16.7 MMT drop in wheat production from the EU, Russia, and Ukraine, the total output for major exporters is just 1% lower than last year (2.9 MMT) due to higher production in the U.S., Australia, and Canada. Source: August 2024 WASDE

Supply and Demand Impacts

Despite a cumulative 16.7 MMT drop in wheat production from the EU, Russia, and Ukraine, the total output for major exporters is just 1% lower than last year (2.9 MMT) and 1% below the five-year average. Increased production forecasts from the U.S., Australia, and Canada have balanced out the declines, contributing to adequate global wheat availability. Nevertheless, the decreased EU and Black Sea production will more heavily impact importers in the MENA region such as Morocco and Egypt, which may prompt them to buy from alternative suppliers.

It is also critical to highlight that total exportable supplies might vary, particularly as the wheat harvest in the Southern Hemisphere becomes more defined in the second half of 2024. In the interim, world prices remain stable, supplies are sufficient, and U.S. Wheat Associates will continue to offer current supply and demand data to aid customers in making informed decisions.

By Tyllor Ledford, USW Market Analyst

August 21, 2024/by Steve Mercer

Hard Red Spring, Soft White, South Asia

Southeast Asia Team Explores U.S. ‘Wheat Store’ During Workshop Stops in North Dakota, Oregon

Hendrogiarto Tiwow, a representative of the from Wilmar Group in Indonesia, checks out a field of soft white (SW) wheat in Oregon during the recent USW Contracting for Wheat Value Workshop.

Hendrogiarto Tiwow, a representative of the from Wilmar Group in Indonesia, checks out a field of soft white (SW) wheat in Oregon during the Contracting for Wheat Value Workshop.

A group of flour millers from Southeast Asia recently became pioneers of sorts, making up the first international trade team to receive instruction at the new home of the Northern Crops Institute (NCI). They also were the first team to visit U.S. Wheat Associates’(USW) new West Coast Office in Portland.

More importantly, the professionals from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines experienced the hard red spring (HRS) and soft white (SW) wheat crop. It has been described as one of the best crops in years.

After a successful USW Contracting for Wheat Value Workshop, the team is returning home with good news to report.

Opportunities to Meet Wheat Farmers

“Auspicious” is how U.S. Vice President for South and Southeast Asia Joe Sowers describes the participants. He points to the favorable opportunities to meet wheat farmers to discuss the crop. Insightful sessions at the Wheat Marketing Center (WMC) and a tour of grain export facilities are important parts of the workshop.

USW’s often-used catchphrase “the U.S. wheat store is always open” rang especially true.

“This Contracting for Wheat Value program has become a regular and very important workshop. We bring representatives from mills in Southeast Asia to the U.S. to help them see and identify the quality characteristics of U.S. wheat,” said Sowers. “A key part of the workshop is a comparison of how their flours perform versus other mills. We work to show them how they can improve the quality of their end products.”

Partnerships in Action

During visits to North Dakota and Oregon, the team from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines were given a good look at the 2024 wheat crop and the U.S. wheat marketing system.

During visits to North Dakota and Oregon, the team from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines was given a look at the 2024 wheat crop and the U.S. wheat marketing system.

NCI, which recently moved to the new Peltier Center on the campus of North Dakota State University in Fargo, played a vital role in the workshop. As did the WMC in Portland.

“With our partners NCI and the WMC, we were able to showcase this year’s wheat crop, but also explain the marketing system,” Sowers explained. “We give them a look at U.S. wheat from the farm to the export elevator. Importantly, we walk them through farms in North Dakota and in Oregon. Showing them how wheat is shipped via rail or via barge to the port for loading on ships is very important. And then, at the end, the most important interaction they have with the U.S. marketing system is their purchase contract. Specifications in those contracts assure they can receive exactly the wheat that they need.”

Purchase contracts are examined and explained to illustrate specific factors that can help customers of U.S. wheat extract the optimal value from each purchase. This year, large yields of HRS, SW and HRW are expected to result in lower protein content in those classes. Armed with this information, participants are better able to communicate with their suppliers to make sure they receive grain they need.

Important – and Growing – Markets

The Philippines is the largest buyer of both U.S. HRS and SW. Indonesia regularly imports between 9 million and 11 million metric tons of wheat. The source is primarily Australia and Canada. But even with a small share, Indonesia is often a Top 10 buyer of US wheat. Indonesia was the seventh largest market last year. The U.S. market share in Indonesia has risen to about 12% in recent years. It is a market with potential for large growth. Malaysia has a much smaller population and is a smaller market, but it has been a consistent buyer of U.S. wheat. There is tremendous potential, as end-product exports by baking companies in Malaysia are growing quickly.

Some of the sights and lessons offered during the USW Contracting for Wheat Value Workshop:

Mike Moran, Executive Director of the Wheat Marketing Center (WMC) in Portland, explained the role the WMC plays in supporting the U.S. wheat industry.

Mike Moran, Executive Director of the Wheat Marketing Center (WMC) in Portland, gave a tour of the WMC facility and explained the important role it plays in supporting the U.S. wheat industry.

At NCI, the Team:

Toured NDSU’s greenhouse and received a presentation about grain exporting by Dr. Bill Wilson.
Visited the Maple River Grain and Agronomy elevator in Casselton, N.D. and a farm in Mapleton, N.D.
Participated in analytical testing on various U.S. wheat flour and dough, and in testing on protein and moisture, ash, and falling number.
Heard from the North Dakota Wheat Commission on the world and U.S. wheat supply and demand.
Learned from Shawn Thiele of Kansas State University about flour mill management to optimize profitability. Thiele offered insight into wheat blending, cleaning, tempering, KPI management, and other processes.
Explored the differences and similarities between U.S. and competitor wheat for various food products.

At the WMC, the team:

Explored the WMC’s facility with Executive Director Mike Moran.
Heard from Operations and Project Manager Liman Liu about the WMC’s role in the important crop quality process for all six classes of U.S. wheat.
The team learned about the quality of each of the six classes of U.S. wheat. It was also presented information about the many end products that can be produced with each class.

August 21, 2024/by Ralph Loos

Hard Red Winter, South America

Video: USW, Oklahoma Wheat Industry Play Host to Trade Delegation from Brazil

Led by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Market Analyst Tyllor Ledford, a Brazilian trade delegation spent three days in Oklahoma to meet with exporters in the area who ship wheat from the largest inland port in the U.S. down to New Orleans for shipment out to customers in South America and other international markets. The team from Brazil also learned about wheat varieties and wheat research, as well as the many uses for U.S. wheat, at Oklahoma State University (OSU).

USW’s Santiago Office sponsored the team, which included wheat procurement managers from six key flour mills in Brazil. Along with Oklahoma, the team visited exporters and wheat industry leaders in Minnesota and surrounding area.

The trip helped improve the confidence in the U.S. export system, reinforced the reliability of the supply chain, and enhanced the group’s knowledge about USW wheat classes and applications. Additionally, interactions with traders established connections and deepened existing relationships.

“This team represented about 70% of total Brazilian wheat milling capacity. That’s about 8.0 MMT of wheat per year and $2.3 billion in value” said Osvaldo Seco, USW Assistant Regional Director in South America. “Participants learned about the U.S. wheat marketing system, its year-round availability, and the investment and effort of U.S. wheat producers to deliver consistent quality year after year.”

USW Past Chairman Michael Peters and the Oklahoma Wheat Commission welcomed the team during its stay in Oklahoma.

“We were excited to be able to host the Brazilian team in our state and have discussions about the wheat they are using in their part of the world,” Mike Schulte, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, said.

Schulte shares more information about the team’s visit in this short video.

August 20, 2024/by Ralph Loos

Market and Crop Analysis

USW Market and Crop Information Reports Provide Valuable, Timely Information

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is committed to helping customers get the wheat they want at the best value possible by providing critical market and crop information throughout the year. USW works closely with a network of traders, extension specialists, market contacts, USDA staff and, of course, our colleagues in overseas offices to analyze and update these resources regularly.

USW is well into its 2024 Harvest Report published every Friday afternoon during each season with updates and comments on harvest progress, crop conditions and current crop quality for HRW, SRW, HRS, SW and durum wheat. Harvest Report is also a key component of USW’s international technical and marketing programs. It is a resource that helps customers understand how the crop situation may affect basis values and export prices. USW’s overseas offices share the report with their market contacts and use it as a key resource in meetings and for answering inquiries. Several USW offices publish the report in the local language. Catch up on the progress of the 2024/25 crop at www.uswheat.org/harvest.

Market Information Resources

Every Friday, USW Market Analyst Tyllor Ledford compiles information from market sources, including exporters of all U.S. wheat classes from various U.S. ports, to publish the Price Report. The prices represent the value of number two grade and the proteins indicated. The report includes FOB and futures prices by class, as well as ocean freight and currency exchange rates. View the Price Report at www.uswheat.org/prices.

Each Thursday, USW releases a Commercial Sales Report that documents sales-to-date for the current marketing year compared to the previous marketing year at the same date. The report sources data from the Weekly Export Sales report published by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. View this report at www.uswheat.org/commercialSales.

Once a month, USW updates a graphic summary of USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report and additional market information. The report summarizes factors affecting the global wheat market, historic information for all major wheat exporting countries and regions, and a by-class summary of U.S. wheat supply and demand. The data may be used without permission, but attribution to USW and USDA is appreciated. View this report at www.uswheat.org/supplyDemand.

In addition to USW’s market data reports, USW publishes this Wheat Letter blog and monthly e-newsletter. It features coverage on market analysis and crop updates, trade policy, export promotion activities and other general wheat industry news. Read the latest issue of Wheat Letter at www.uswheat.org/wheatLetter.

Subscribe

You may subscribe to have the Price Report, Harvest Report and Wheat Letter sent straight to your email.

USW’s 13 overseas offices share market and crop information and other resources with their market contacts and use them as key resources in their trade servicing activities. Contact your local USW representative for additional information.

August 16, 2024/by actualize

Kansas Wheat, Plant Breeding Innovation

Wheat’s Origin

Editor’s Note: Following are excerpts from the “Wheat Scoop” blog from U.S. Wheat Associates state commission member Kansas Wheat. Read the full article here. Photo above Copyright Kansas State University.

Long, long ago in a land far, far away, bread wheat came into existence. Researchers are still unlocking the secrets of the wild relatives of that ancient wheat to improve modern-day varieties – and a collection of seeds housed on Kimball Avenue in Manhattan [Kansas] is key to this work.

Photo of Bikram Gill, Kansas State University

Bikram Gill – Photo Copyright Kansas State University.

Bikram Gill and John Raupp with [Kansas State University’s] Wheat Genetics Resource Center sat down with Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations … to share wheat’s origin story and how the collection continues to provide valuable genetic resources for modern wheat breeding programs.

Evolutionary Events

To understand this potential, one must go way back to the origin of wheat as a species in the Fertile Crescent – where the crop helped start human civilization more than 10,000 years ago. At that time, wheat did not yet exist. It would take two major evolutionary events that mixed three different grass species to make the first bread wheat genome.

The first stop on this timeline was the merger of two wild ancestors that resulted in the eventual creation of wild emmer wheat (genome formula AB).

“As a species in nature, nature produced bread wheat around half a million years ago,” Gill said. “Two grasses, they happened to have fun. They hybridized – and that produced bread wheat.”

The second stop on the timeline came … when that wild emmer wheat was combined with an ancient goatgrass (genome formula D). That genetic mix resulted in the first crop cultivated by humankind.

“In some farmer’s field, some goat grass hybridized with emmer wheat, which originated in Syria,” Gill said. “And that farmer was smart enough, he selected that plant. And that’s our bread wheat.”

From there, Mother Nature kept mixing in wild wheat relatives to this new bread wheat – and farmers selected the most successful versions to plant again.

“After wheat originated, these wild wheats kept cross-hybridizing with domesticated wheat,” Gill said. “There were no breeders, but nature was doing breeding for the first 10,000 years. They were cross-pollinating and farmers were selecting new types out of that.”

A Complex Genome

This origin story from Kansas State scientists is important because it explains why the wheat genome is so complex. Wheat is a hexaploid, meaning it has six sets of seven chromosomes. Most genes in wheat exist in three copies – one each from those A, B and D genomes. As a result, there are 16 billion DNA letters in the wheat genome – the human genome has three billion letters – meaning you could type out the genetic code of wheat in 12-point font and the type will go around the world.

This triplication and redundancy make wheat very hard to genetically analyze.

“It’s essentially three different genomes coexisting in one,” Gill said. “Wheat is a very elegant genetic system.”

While hard to pick through, that complexity also makes wheat a more durable crop.

“This is called genetic buffering,” Gill said. “Wheat can tolerate the extremes of environment because of this buffering caused by the redundancy of the genes.”

With this understanding of the origin and complexity of wheat, how does that relate to wheat breeding programs? Fast forward to 1979 when Gill did a postdoctoral fellowship at Kansas State and was first exposed to the genetic stocks used to map genes and breed wheat. He took that experience with him to his second postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California-Riverside, where he was blown away by the genetic diversity of a collection of wild weeds.

Gill started to form a vision of a resource that would combine the two – a collection of wild wheat relatives with unlocked genetic potential and a wheat breeding program that could replicate Mother Nature’s process of pulling in traits to make better varieties for farmers to plant.

In 1980, Gill wrote a grant and flew on a small plane to Hutchinson, the then-headquarters of the Kansas Wheat Commission to pitch his idea.

“I presented my vision – we want to establish the Wheat Genetics Resource Center … A yield bump is going to come from this because of that genetic diversity. Nobody knew what wild wheats were in the Great Plains at that time. I said I know that this is where the next big evolution is.”

Backed by approval from Kansas State’s wheat breeder at the time, the commissioners agreed to provide the seed money. Gill gathered an initial collection of 500 genetic lines, including seeds from collections in Japan, Israel, Russia and other countries. He immediately dove into early projects identifying Hessian fly resistance and leaf rust resistance …

“We are just doing what happened in nature,” Gill said. “That’s how bread wheat arose, so we are essentially repeating the same process except we’re doing it in the lab.”

Since 1980, John Raupp has served as curator of the Kansas State Wheat Genetics Resource Center a collection is up to about 4,200 genetic lines used by wheat breeders locally and around the world.

International Cooperation

Raupp has served as the curator of the Wheat Genetics Resource Center since August 1980. He noted the collection is up to about 4,200 lines …It’s his job to maintain the stocks of this genetic material, making sure scientists and breeders have access to the seeds they need to complete projects … To maintain their integrity, the seeds must be planted, grown either in a greenhouse or an outdoor plot and often hand-harvested to replenish seeds before they are no longer viable.

Today, Raupp noted he annually fulfills about 100 different requests for those seeds from researchers in neighboring states to those in countries on the other side of the planet. Aided by modern research techniques like genetic sequencing and CRISPR, these researchers continue to unlock more of that ancient genetic potential to improve the wheat varieties of tomorrow.

“It’s been a gold mine,” Harries said. “You go treasure hunting in this collection that you’ve created here. A lot of the traits that we have for stripe rust, leaf rust and viral traits all come from those wild wheat relatives. And that work is far from over.”

Learn more about wheat’s origin story and the Kansas State Wheat Genetics Resource Center by listening to the full “Wheat’s on Your Mind” podcast episode at www.WheatsOnYourMind.com. Watch the video below to learn more about how wheat breeders use genetic lines to produce new, more productive, higher quality U.S. wheat varieties.

By Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

August 16, 2024/by Steve Mercer

Wheat Industry News

News and Information from Around the World Wheat Industry