Agricultural News
Oklahoma Genetics Director Mark Hodges Says It Will be a Race To the Finish Line For Wheat
Mon, 17 May 2021 07:57:26 CDT
After viewing the OSU wheat variety test plots at Lahoma this week, Mark Hodges, director of Oklahoma Genetics, said it will be a race to the finish line as many of the plants are showing signs of rust disease.
Hodges was interviewed by Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Associate Farm Director and Editor KC Sheperd during the OSU wheat variety field tour Thursday.
All the varieties look very good, but we saw a lot of stripe and leaf rust, Hodges said.
In western Oklahoma we need another drink of water to finish the crop, he said.
He noted rain could help wash the rust pustules off the leaves and give the plants a fighting chance.
Hodges noted the rust disease is part of wheat breeder Brett Carver's challenge to find a wheat plant that is rust resistant.
Hodges said he is excited about new wheat varieties becoming available that are more chemical resistant.
We have two varieties right now, one was just released this past year, will be open to OGI membership this coming year and the general producers the year after that, Hodges said.
Hodges said the Doublestop CL Plus variety has become one of the more popular wheat varieties throughout Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.
First released in 2013, Doublestop was intended for central Oklahoma but its range has expanded to many areas in the High Plains, Hodges said.
Strad CL Plus is another variety Hodges believes producers will like.
He noted this wheat can supplant its predecessor in fields which utilize the Clearfield commercially branded herbicide control system.
You can click on the listen bar below to hear more of KC's interview with Mark Hodges.
[w:\INCOMING AUDIO\markhodges.mp3
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