Variety Selection and Testing
The WSU Variety Testing Program’s (VTP) 2026 winter variety trial maps are available online. The website includes links to Google Maps pins for each of the locations, as well as driving directions and plot schematics. Paper copies of plot maps are available in the PVC tubes attached to the Variety Testing signs at each location.
There were some changes made to locations planted for the 2026 harvest year. The previously named “CLOAX” is now called Traited Soft White Wheat. Fall planted DNS and winter barley trials have been put on an indefinite pause. VTP’s current bandwidth is limited, and we have made the difficult decision to discontinue these trials for the time being. Additionally, based on an analysis of VTP data from 2012-2023, we have chosen to re-organize our dryland trials into two mega-environments to improve data analysis and delivery, low rainfall (<16”) and high rainfall (>16”), in addition to irrigated trials. We dropped the winter Farmington location but added Dayton and Kahlotus locations back to the trials. The Kahlotus location is a replacement for the Connell location dropped in 2025. Due to difficult planting conditions this fall, the Douglas and Moses Lake sites were moved to new locations so please be aware that some sites are not in their “usual” spots.
Information about the 2026 spring wheat variety trials will be made available in late spring.
The 2026 PNW Crop Tour schedule will be available before May.
A summary of the 2025 wheat harvest should be available soon.
Thank you to the Washington Grain Commission for funding that supports the trials and tours as well as the county wheat growers associations and co-sponsors for programs and meals associated with the field days. Finally, a big thank you to the grower cooperators for their time and resources to host the variety trials. We truly appreciate all the continued support.
Timely Topics
- Beginning the 2026 Winter Wheat Variety Trials: Maps, Plot Schematics
- Upcoming Local Educational Events from the Dryland Cropping Systems Team
- The performance of canola varieties at field scale in 2025
Report Findings Include:
- Yield – Single and Multi-Year Regional Averages
- Test Weight
- Protein
- Plant Height
- Head Date
- Lodging
- Emergence
- Winter Survival
- Stripe Rust Rating
- Cephalosporium Stripe Rating
- Straw Breaker Foot Rot Rating
- Snow Mold Rating
- Hessian Fly Rating
- Aluminum Tolerance
- End Use Quality Rating
- Falling Number Rating
Direct Questions to:
Tricia Demacon
Email: patricia.demacon@wsu.edu
WSU Variety Selection Tool
A preliminary edition of the WSU Variety Selection Tool is available, although it does not contain all varieties yet.
This interactive tool helps wheat growers select what variety of crops to grow based on rainfall zone.
Videos
2023 video playlist with winter and spring wheat variety descriptions for Low Rainfall Regions
Mission
The WSU Extension Cereal Variety Testing Program provides growers and the agribusiness industry with comprehensive information on the adaptation and performance of winter and spring wheat and barley varieties across the different climatic regions of eastern Washington.