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Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Special Report No. 497 K. D. Kephart, A. L. McKendry, M. K. Kroening and D. N. Tague1/
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Genetic improvement of wheat varieties has contributed about 40 to 50 percent of the total improvement in wheat yields attained over the past 50 years. Both public and private wheat breeding programs are constantly striving towards greater yield potential, improved grain quality and better host plant resistance to disease and insect pests in the new varieties released for commercial production. In fact, over 100 new soft red winter wheat varieties alone have been released to U.S. farmers in the last 10 years. This volume of new varieties creates uncertainty among farmers trying to select the best variety or varieties for their situation. Wheat growers are reluctant to adopt new varieties without adequate information concerning adaptation and performance. The objective of the Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Tests is to provide wheat growers in Missouri with a reliable, unbiased, up-to-date source of information that will permit valid comparisons among improved wheat varieties. This information should help Missouri wheat growers select varieties best suited to their particular area and growing conditions. This report summarizes winter wheat variety trials conducted throughout Missouri during the 1995-96 cropping season.
Locations
The soft red winter wheats were planted at seven Missouri locations (Fig. 1); including Portageville and Charleston in the southeastern region, Mt. Vernon and Lamar in the southwestern region and Columbia, Novelty and Trenton in the northern region of the state. Separate studies comparing hard red winter wheat entries were planted at Columbia, Mt. Vernon and Trenton.
Entries and Seed Sources
Names of commercially available entries evaluated in 1996 and their seed sources are listed in Table 1. Sixty three soft red and 7 hard red winter wheats were tested. The soft red winter wheats were comprised of 10 public varieties, 5 public experimental entries and 48 proprietary varieties. The hard red winter wheats were comprised of 4 public and 3 proprietary varieties. Public varieties adapted to Missouri growing conditions or recommended by the state of origin were entered into the 1995-96 variety test under the sponsorship of the Missouri Seed Improvement Association. Numbered entries preceded by a state designation (e.g. MO12258, OH526) are experimental lines not yet available for commercial production and provided by the foundation seed organization or the wheat breeder of the originating state. Seed lots of named public varieties also were acquired from the foundation seed organization of the originating state or from the University of Missouri Foundation Seed Program. Proprietary entries are submitted for testing on a fee basis by their owners or sponsors. Condition of the seed lot (vigor, viability, seed treatment, etc.) used in these tests for each entry is the responsibility of the company or organization sponsoring that entry.
Experimental Design and Seeding Methods
Each soft red winter wheat experiment was planted using a 8x8 lattice design with four replications. Test plots consisted of a 15 foot, 6-row plot with 7-inch row spacing. All entries were seeded at approximately 1.5 million seeds per acre, roughly equivalent to seeding 1.5 to 2 bushels per acre. Actual seeding rates were calculated from the thousand kernel weights determined for each soft red winter wheat entry (Table 2) and varied from 94 to 169 pounds per acre. Seeding rates were not adjusted for germination. Except for the Trenton location, all entries were seeded 1.25 to 1.5 inches deep into conventional seedbeds using a plot drill equipped with conventional double-disk openers. At the Trenton site, all entries were no-till seeded directly into soybean stubble using a plot drill equipped with AcraplantTM no-till openers.
Hard red winter wheat experiments were conducted in similar fashion except all hard red winter wheat entries were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Seeding rate of the hard red winter wheats varied from 85 to 115 pounds per acre (Table 2).
Agronomic Practices
Basic agronomic practices are given in Table 3 by location. Planting dates were based on Hessian fly-free dates recommended for each location. Nitrogen was applied in split fall/spring applications. Spring nitrogen applications were generally made at or shortly after initial green up (Feeke's GS 6). Preplant phosphorous and potassium applications were based on soil test recommendations provided by the University of Missouri Soil Testing Laboratory located at Columbia. At Charleston and Trenton, all wheats were treated with 4 oz. of Tilt fungicide (a.i. propiconazole) per acre during the flag leaf growth stage of development (Feeke's GS 8) to control foliar diseases.
Yield
All rows of each test plot were trimmed 30 inches and harvested using an experimental-plot combine. Recorded grain yields were adjusted to 13% grain moisture content, and are reported in bushels per acre based on a 60 pound per bushel test weight. In addition to yields obtained in 1996, two (1995-96) and three (1994-96) year averages are provided for soft red wheat entries tested during previous cropping seasons. Yield results from each location and the state-wide averages are summarized in Tables 14 and 19 for soft red winter wheats and hard red winter wheats, respectively.
Test Weight and Grain Moisture Content
Test weight (pounds per bushel) and percent grain moisture content were obtained for each plot using a Dickey-john GAC II grain analyzer.
Plant Height
Plant height was measured in inches from the soil surface to the top of the head, excluding the awns if present. Reported values have been rounded to the nearest inch.
Lodging
Lodging severity was rated at all test locations in 1996. Plots were rated on a severity scale of 0 to 9 where 0 = no lodging and 9 = plants completely flat.
Winter Survival
Percent winter survival was estimated for each plot after initial spring green-up at locations where significant winter injury occurred. Reported values have been rounded to the nearest percent. In 1996, substantial differences in winter survival among varieties were noted at all locations.
Heading Date
Heading was noted at Columbia, Mount Vernon and Portageville when 50% of the heads in a plot had extended above the flag leaf collar. Heading dates were recorded in Julian days (number of days from January 1) for statistical purposes. Corresponding calendar dates also are presented.
Disease Ratings
Field disease notes for scab (Fusarium spp.) and septoria leaf blotch (Septoria tritici syn. Mycosphaerella graminicola) were taken at locations where the incidence was severe enough to discern variety differences and symptoms were not obscured by other diseases. Scab ratings were taken at the Lamar (Table 11) and Mount Vernon sites (Table 12). Scab scores of 0 to 9 were used to estimate zero to complete infection by Fusarium spp. , respectively, where incidence is an estimate of the number of heads infected in approximately 10 percent increments and severity estimates the number of diseased spikelets within infected heads also in approximately 10 percent increments. The incidence of septoria leaf blotch was evaluated at the Columbia location (Table 6) by estimating the percent of total foliage infected during the milk stage (Feeke's GS 11.1) of kernel development.
Data collected on all traits measured from the soft red winter wheats during 1996 are presented in Tables 5 through 14. Tables 15 through 19 cover data summarized for the hard red winter wheat entries. The data collected at each soft red winter wheat test location were analyzed as a four-replication, lattice design. Hard red winter wheat locations were analyzed as four replication randomized complete block designs. If an observation was missing in one replication, the average of those observations in the remaining replications was used to approximate the missing observation. Fisher's protected least significant difference at the 0.05 probability level [LSD (p=0.05)] and coefficients of variation (CV%) were calculated from analyses of variance by each location and across all locations. The LSD is used to compare the performance of two specific varieties at a time. If the mean of a variety exceeds that of another variety by more than the LSD, then the difference observed will be a true difference in 19 out of 20 instances under conditions similar to those of the test.
Variety selection should be based on yield stability in a production environment over years and locations. Selection also should consider other characteristics such as test weight, plant height, heading date and disease resistance. Where these additional characteristics were not measured in a particular production environment, they can be evaluated from locations in which they were rated. Where a variety has been in the test for two or three years, combined analyses of the yield data over years are presented. Tables 14 and 19 rank the soft red and hard red winter wheats, respectively, according to their state-wide average. Overall rank can be very misleading. Differences in yield between any two varieties are considered significant or real only if that difference exceeds the LSD value given at the bottom of each column. Growers should be careful to make pair-wise comparisons of results from both the appropriate location or locations and the state-wide averages before selecting one wheat variety over another for production in Missouri.
Dry conditions at planting combined with winter freezing and heaving injury were the major constraints to wheat production at most test locations in Missouri during 1996. All locations were planted in a timely fashion, but germination was delayed and wheat stands were slow to establish due to drought conditions that existed in Missouri during the fall of 1995. Fall plant growth and tillering were less than normally observed, particularly at the northern and southwestern test sites. Temperatures remained moderate during the late fall months, permitting some wheat growth almost to January 1 as far north as Trenton and Novelty. Beginning in mid January, severe winterkill and heaving resulted from repeated cycles of below zero temperatures followed by brief periods of above freezing weather. Substantial stand losses occurred. Winter survival averaged 39 percent across all locations, with the three northern sites (Columbia, Novelty and Trenton) suffering the greatest winter injury, thinnest stands, and competition from annual weeds that persisted until these sites were harvested. An extended period of cold temperatures in March and early April delayed jointing and heading by as much as three weeks. Average to above average rainfall prevailed during May at all locations, providing adequate soil moisture during the grain filling period but also creating conditions favorable for the development of scab (Fusarium spp. ). Yields at Novelty were further reduced by atrazine injury caused by the disposal of atrazine rinsate in the plot area approximately one month prior to planting, resulting in the loss of one replication.
The occurrence of foliar and head diseases was light to modest at most test locations during the 1995-96 growing season. Delayed germination and slow crop growth associated with the dry conditions existing in the fall of 1995 resulted in smaller plants and less foliage, reducing the opportunity for diseases such as powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici), septoria leaf blotch (Septoria tritici), septoria glume blotch (S. nodorum) and/or tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) to develop. Warmer temperatures and timely rainfall in late April and early May encouraged septoria leaf blotch development at Columbia. All soft red winter wheat entries possessed some level of infection from septoria leaf blotch by the milk stage of kernel development (Feeke's GS 11.1), but leaf blotch development was most rapid on 'GA-Dozier', 'Patterson' and 'VA93-52-60' soft red winter wheats (Table 6). No differences in septoria leaf blotch development were noted among the hard red winter wheats tested at Columbia (Table 16), but these varieties tended to have higher infection levels than most soft red winter wheats. Scab was evident at most locations in 1996, but symptoms for this disease were most severe at Lamar and Mt. Vernon (Tables 11 and 12). Trace levels of Cephalosporium stripe (Cephalosporium gramineum) were observed across the experiment at Trenton and not associated with a particular set of entries. Late season development of leaf (Puccinia recondida) and stem (P. graminis) rusts occurred at most locations, but most winter wheats had already achieved the late soft dough or early hard dough stage of kernel development.
The overall yield of the soft red winter wheats tested in 1996 was 48.8 bushels per acre (Table 5 and 14), 5.6 bushels per acre more than the previous year and 16.7 bushels per acre less than yields observed in 1994 (Fig. 2). Average yields at the seven test locations varied from 30.6 bushels per acre at Novelty to 70.2 bushels per acre at Charleston (Table 14). The Columbia, Novelty and Trenton sites averaged 35.6 bushels per acre compared to 66.2 and 49.6 bushels per acre for the southeastern ('Bootheel') and southwestern regions, respectively (Table 13).
The nine soft red winter wheat varieties producing the highest yields in 1996 demonstrated either superior or above average winterhardiness compared to most other varieties tested (Table 5 and 14). 'Pioneer variety 2540' was the highest yielding entry tested in 1996, averaging 66.7 bushels per acre across all locations. The highest yielding public variety was 'Howell', released by the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station in 1992. Howell averaged 60.5 bushels per acre. In addition to Howell, seven other entries produced yields equal to those of Pioneer variety 2540 including; 'HBR 4020' (60.9 bu/acre), 'NeCo S98' (60.3 bu/acre), 'Pioneer variety 2571' (60.3 bu/acre), 'Coker 9474' (60.2 bu/acre), 'FFR 558W' (59.4 bu/acre), 'LG Seeds JMS 104' (58.8 bu/acre), and 'AGRIPRO Clemens' (58.1 bu/acre). Pioneer variety 2571 (54.1 bu/acre) and 'Pioneer variety 2552' (59.3 bu/acre) have been the highest yielding varieties tested for the past 2 and 3 years, respectively (Table 5).
The seven hard red winter wheats tested in 1996 averaged 41.6 bushels per acre across the three test locations (Table 15 and 19). Location yields varied from 34.9 bushels per acre at Trenton to 51.8 bushels per acre at Mt. Vernon (Table 19). As with the soft red winter wheats, adequate winter survival among the hard red winter wheats was necessary to achieve high yields. '2137' was the highest yielding hard red winter wheat tested in 1996, averaging 55.6 bushels per acre across all locations. Yields of 'Karl 92' (51.1 bu/acre) and '2163' (48.5 bu/acre) were equal to those of 2137. All three entries exhibited superior winter survival compared to the remaining 4 hard red winter wheat entries tested.
Test weights among the soft and hard red winter wheats averaged 55.4 and 57.4 pounds per bushel, respectively, in 1996 (Tables 5 and 15). Test weight levels measured in 1996 were nearly equal to those observed in 1995 (Fig. 3), and nearly 5 pounds heavier than the test weights reduced by scab in 1991. Location means during 1996 varied from 48.8 pounds per bushel at Novelty (Table 7) to 60.4 pounds per bushel at Charleston (Table 9). Coker 9474 produced the heaviest test weight at 60.1 pounds per bushel (Table 5). Seven other soft red winter wheats averaged a test weight equal to or exceeding the 58 pounds per bushel minimum necessary for U.S. No. 2 grade soft red winter wheat; HBR 4020 (59.2 lb/bu), Howell (58.8 lb/bu), NeCo S98 (58.8 lb/bu), LG Seeds JMS 104 (58.6 lb/bu), AGRIPRO Elkhart (58.2 lb/bu), Terra SR204 (58.2 lb/bu) and AGRIPRO Pontiac (58.0 lb/bu).
Hard red winter wheat test weights were heaviest and more consistent at Mt. Vernon (Table 17), where winter survival was greatest and crop development was more uniform. Test weights were lightest and more variable among hard red winter wheats at the Trenton site (Table 18), where survival was approximately one third of that observed at Mt. Vernon. Among the hard red winter wheats tested during 1996, none averaged better than the 60 pounds per bushel minimum required for U.S. No. 1 hard red winter wheat (Table 15). 2137 averaged the heaviest test weight at 59.0 pounds per bushel.
Several entries previously tested as experimental lines have been or will be released as varieties for commercial production. Descriptions of 'branded varieties' also are provided when the true identity of the variety is known. Brief descriptions derived from variety release statements or other publicly available information are provided for informational purposes only. These descriptions do not imply endorsement or exclusion of any commercially available wheat varieties by the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.
'2137' (HBF0263-137, KS92P0263-137, PI592444) is a new hard red winter wheat developed and released from the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2137 was originally selected from the cross 'W2440 / W9488A // 2163' by Pioneer Hi-Bred International at Hutchinson, Kansas. Development of 2137 continued at Kansas State University following the termination of Pioneer's hard red winter wheat breeding program in 1990. It was tested in regional trials as 'KS92P0263-137'. 2137 is an awned, white chaffed hard red winter wheat with intermediate plant height slightly taller and maturity 1 day later than the '2163' parent. 2137 is resistant to powdery mildew, the prevalent field races of leaf rust, soilborne mosaic virus, wheat spindle streak mosaic virus and Hessian fly. It is moderately resistant to stem rust, wheat streak mosaic virus and barley yellow dwarf virus. 2137 is tolerant of septoria leaf blotch, septoria glume blotch, tan spot and aluminum toxicity associated with low pH soils. In 1996, 2137 demonstrated winterhardiness levels comparable to those exhibited by 2163 and 'Karl 92' hard red winter wheat, and superior to 'Jagger' hard red winter wheat. 2137 was the highest yielding hard red winter wheat tested across three locations in Missouri during 1996 (Tables 15 and 19).
AGRIPRO Mason Soft Red Winter Wheat
'AGRIPRO Mason' (91D-2308, PI594044, PVP 9600218) is a new proprietary soft red winter wheat recently released by Agripro Seeds, Inc. It's pedigree is 'Cardinal // (C78318, MN74143 / Oligoculm) /3/ Coker 9323'. AGRIPRO Mason is a high yielding, strong strawed, medium height wheat with early maturity. AGRIPRO Mason possesses resistance to the most prevalent races of leaf rust and stem rust in its area of adaptation. AGRIPRO Mason offers moderate resistance to septoria leaf and glume blotches, and moderate resistance to wheat spindle streak mosaic and soilborne mosaic viruses. It is considered to have better tolerance to spring freezing injury than most other early maturing soft red winter wheats adapted to the southern corn belt and Mid-South regions. AGRIPRO Mason produced average yield and test weight compared to all entries tested at 7 locations in Missouri during 1996 (Tables 5 and 14). Application for Plant Variety Protection has been made for AGRIPRO Mason (PVP Cert. No. 9600218), with commercial sale of seed only as a class of certified seed. More detailed information on AGRIPRO Mason is available from the company upon request.
Coker 9663 Soft Red Winter Wheat
'Coker 9663' (L900819) is an awnletted soft red winter wheat developed by the Northrup King Company at Bay, Arkansas from the cross 'IN71761A4-31-5-48 / Florida 302'. Coker 9663 is a tall semi-dwarf variety with good straw strength, growing 2 to 3 inches taller in plant height than most other semi-dwarf types. Maturity is considered early-to-intermediate, with excellent yield potential and high test weight. Coker 9663 is resistant to the prevalent field races of leaf rust that exist in the Mid-South region. It is moderately resistant to stem rust, septoria leaf and glume blotches and powdery mildew. Coker 9663 exhibits moderately resistant to resistant reactions to Biotype E of the Hessian fly. Winterhardiness should be adequate to permit production as far north as I-70 in most years. Yields and test weights of Coker 9663 were average compared to all other soft red winter wheats tested in Missouri during 1996 (Tables 5 and 14). Northrup King has applied for Plant Variety Protection of Coker 9663 under the Title V option, with commercial sale of seed only available as a class of certified seed through their TGN grower/dealer network. More detailed information on Coker 9663 is available from the company upon request.
'Jaypee' (AR26158-4, PI592760, PVP 9600156) is the most recent soft red winter wheat developed and released by the University of Arkansas's Agricultural Experiment Station. Jaypee is an awntipped, white chaffed variety selected from the cross 'Doublecrop // (AR39-3, Forlani / Garibaldino)' to combine early maturity and high yield potential with substantially heavier test weight. Jaypee is resistant to leaf rust, moderately resistant to septoria glume blotch, soilborne mosaic virus and wheat spindle streak mosaic virus, and expresses adult plant resistance to powdery mildew. Jaypee exhibits good milling and excellent baking characteristics. In 1996, Jaypee suffered substantial winter injury at most Missouri test locations resulting in below average yield combined with average test weight (Tables 5 and 14). Jaypee may lack sufficient winterhardiness for wide-spread adaptation in Missouri, with the best adaptation of Jaypee in Missouri likely to occur in the southeastern counties of the upper Mississippi River Delta. Application for Plant Variety Protection of Jaypee (PVP Cert. No. 9600156) has been made by the University of Arkansas.
Pioneer variety 2540 Soft Red Winter Wheat
'Pioneer variety 2540' (XW535, PVP 9500246) is a new proprietary soft red winter wheat developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Pioneer variety 2540 is an awned, medium maturing variety, with medium plant height and average straw lodging resistance. It has strong winterhardiness and has shown good adaptation over most of the soft wheat growing region, but below average drought tolerance may limit its performance some seasons on light or sandy soils. Pioneer variety 2540 has very good resistance to powdery mildew, leaf rust, stem rust, soilborne mosaic virus, wheat spindle streak mosaic virus, septoria leaf and glume blotches and tan spot. Pioneer variety 2540 has no known resistance to Hessian fly. Pioneer variety 2540 has demonstrated excellent yield potential and good test weight across the soft wheat region. It averaged the highest yields among all soft red winter wheat entries tested across 7 locations in Missouri during 1996 (Tables 5 and 14). Pioneer variety 2540 is protected by the Plant Variety Protection Act as amended in 1994 (PVP Cert. No. 9500246). More detailed information on Pioneer variety 2540 is available from the Pioneer upon request.
Pioneer variety 2568 Soft Red Winter Wheat
'Pioneer variety 2568' (XW532, PVP 9500247) is a new proprietary soft red winter wheat developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Pioneer variety 2568 is an awned, medium-early maturing variety, with medium plant height and excellent straw lodging resistance. It has shown excellent adaptation over most of the soft wheat growing region, but with below average winterhardiness, similar to that of Pioneer variety 2548, it is not recommended in areas prone to frequent winterkill. Pioneer variety 2568 has excellent resistance to leaf rust, stem rust, soilborne mosaic virus, and wheat spindle streak mosaic virus. It has moderate resistance to powdery mildew, septoria leaf and glume blotches and tan spot. Pioneer variety 2568 has no known resistance to Hessian fly. Pioneer variety 2568 has demonstrated excellent yield potential and very good test weight across the soft wheat region. In 1996, Pioneer variety 2568 was the highest yielding entry at Charleston and performed above-average in yield across all 7 test locations (Tables 5 and 14). Test weight performance was average compared to all other entries. Pioneer variety 2568 is protected by the Plant Variety Protection Act as amended in 1994 (PVP Cert. No. 9500247). More detailed information on Pioneer variety 2568 is available from Pioneer upon request.
Projected Crop Statistics
Based on July 1 estimates, Missouri's 1996 wheat crop was harvested from approximately 1.3 million acres, up 8 percent from the wheat acreage harvested in 1995 (Table 5). Severe winter injury resulted in significant wheat acreage abandonment prior to harvest in the North-Central, North-East, Central and East-Central crop reporting districts. The statewide average yield projected by the Missouri Agricultural Statistical Service is 39 bu/acre, nearly equal to average yields attained in 1995 (Fig. 2) and below the 44 bu/acre reported for 1994. Projected district average yields ranged from a high of 48 bu/acre for the South-East district to a low of 33 bu/acre in the North-West district. Total projected production of the 1996 Missouri wheat crop is 50.7 million bushels, over 6 million bushels more than 1995 production levels and representing a 14 percent increase.
Results of the 1996 Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Tests are now available in three electronic forms. The winter wheat variety test data can be accessed on the Missouri Agricultural Bulletin Board (AgEBB) supported by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The telephone number for the AgEBB is (573) 882-8289. Baud rates up to 14,400 bps are presently supported. Select the "CROP PERFORMANCE TESTING" option from the main AgEBB menu. Call (573) 882-4827 to contact the AgEBB staff concerning questions or problems.
For Internet users, the 1996 Missouri winter wheat test results are available on either gopher or world wide web servers. World wide web access of this entire document is offered at 'http://www.plantsci.missouri.edu/pubs/sr479'. The 1996 Missouri winter wheat test data also can be obtained in the form of Excel 4.0 spreadsheets either from the University of Missouri Extension Gopher Server or from the GrainGenes Gopher Server located at Cornell University. The University Extension Gopher is accessible at the Internet address 'etcs.ext.missouri.edu'. At the main menu of the UE Gopher, select the menu option titled 'Other Information Servers of Interest to University Extension'. Next select 'State Wheat & Other Small Grain Performance Tests'. The Internet host address for the Cornell Gopher database is 'greengenes.cit.cornell.edu'. Select the "Grain files to download" menu option from the main GrainGenes menu and then select "Wheat Variety Tests". Missouri winter wheat variety test data from previous reports and reports from other states also are available.
Special Report No. 497 is a contribution of the Department of Agronomy, University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. The Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Testing program is partially funded by Missouri wheat farmers and businessmen through a grant from the Missouri Seed Improvement Association and by fees from companies submitting varieties for evaluation. Special recognition goes to the following individuals who provided their time, land and additional resources in support of this program:
Mr. Smith Deline, Farmer Cooperator
Charleston, Missouri
Mr. Jake Fisher, Superintendent
Delta Research and Extension Center
Portageville, Missouri
Dr. Richard Crawford, Superintendent
Southwest Research and Extension Center
Mt. Vernon, Missouri
Mr. John Poehlmann, Superintendent
Bradford Agricultural Research Center
Columbia, Missouri
Mr. David Sheats, Farmer Cooperator
Lamar, Missouri
Mr. Randall Smoot, Superintendent
Greenley Agricultural Research Center
Novelty, Missouri
The excellent cooperation and support provided by these individuals has been invaluable to this project. Special thanks also are extended to Dr. Laura Sweets, Commercial Ag. Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Missouri, for help with disease evaluations and plot harvesting, Mr. Richard Mattas, Southwest Research and Extension Center, for supplying heading notes at Mt. Vernon, and to Mr. Bob Bellinghousen, Director, Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service, for supplying Missouri wheat production statistics and for help in direct mailing of this publication to Missouri wheat farmers. The authors would like to extend their appreciation to the following individuals for their contribution towards this report: Jennifer Morris, Brent Davey, Raymond Bate, Andrew Bate, Tim Kroening, Tonya Vogt and Ben Waller.