You can select as many of the below varieties as you are interested in testing. You will receive approximately 1/2 pound of seed per experimental variety, enough to plant four 10-foot rows. We have limited supplies of seed, so only take the varieties you want. It will be first-come, first-served, so fill out the form soon, as varieties will be removed as we run out of seed. In addition to the varieties you select, everyone will also receive seed of two "check" varieties -- 'Yocora Rojo' and 'Patwin 515' -- that you will plant on the sides of the experimental varieties. You can see the basic layout in the picture below. Having these check varieties planted at all sites helps us compare between sites, even if farmers are not growing all of the same experimental varieties. It won't be possible to use your grain drill to plant these plots. Instead, use a drill to mark the rows and then use a push seeder such as an Earthway, Planet Jr., or Jang to plant. The seed will be hot-water treated (see below), which reduces germination. We will be providing germination percentages and recommendations on how heavily to overseed to make up for the reduced germination.

Seed-borne fungal diseases such as loose smut (Ustilago tritici) and stinking smut (Tilletia sp.) are a concern whenever you bring untreated wheat seed onto your farm to plant. To reduce the risk of these diseases, the seed you will receive was grown in a conventional field where no smut was observed during the growing season. In addition, the seed you will receive will be hot-water treated to further reduce the risk. That said, if smut does appear on any of the wheat, its spores can spread 1 mile or more and infect other wheat. For that reason, we recommend that you do not plant this trial near your other wheat fields and monitor it closely for any signs of disease as heads develop.

As part of the trial, we ask that you collect data about plant height, maturity, lodging (falling over), and any disease or other observations you wish to note. If you have the capacity to hand harvest and thresh, please also report the yield. If you do not have the capacity to thresh small scale plots like these, arrangements can be made with us to thresh them at UC Davis. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 'PATWIN 515' WHICH CANNOT BE REPLANTED, the seed is yours to keep, either to save and replant or to mill and bake. If you do process the seed, let us know any opinions you have on the varieties.

We have small stipends of $200 each that we can provide to each grower who completes the trial.

Here's a link to some limited details on their origins and pedigrees: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16zAoW_FeXNga-F3h1Iag_3vIyux9PfaSJfnOulbQhLI/edit?usp=sharing