Early results from University of Missouri seed variety testing trials are showing wheat yields well above average in parts of southeastern Missouri, pointing to strong production potential for the state’s 2026 crop.
Researchers with the University of Missouri Variety Testing Program reported that two of three trial locations in the region averaged more than 100 bushels per acre, significantly higher than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s June 11 forecast of 72 bushels per acre across Missouri’s projected 430,000 harvested acres.
The results also outpaced recent regional averages. Farm Credit data show three-year wheat yields in southeastern Missouri averaging 62 bushels per acre on non-irrigated ground and 71 bushels per acre on irrigated acres.
University of Missouri officials said the strong numbers reflect favorable growing conditions and timely planting last fall, which helped establish good pre-dormancy growth and tillering.
Across the region, MU Extension agronomists reported consistent yields ranging from 80 to 90 bushels per acre, with some fields topping 100 bushels per acre.
The university’s Variety Testing Program evaluates wheat, corn, soybean and grain sorghum performance across multiple environments in Missouri, providing growers with data to help guide seed decisions.
Program leaders said variety selection remains one of the most important management decisions for wheat producers, particularly in a state with significant variation in soil types, rainfall patterns and irrigation practices.
Each year, researchers plant replicated small plots of commercial soft red winter wheat varieties across Missouri to measure yield potential, disease tolerance and the impact of seed treatments. Varieties are grouped by top performance and compared within the same statistical margin of error.
Researchers noted that weather conditions varied sharply among trial sites this season, with some receiving as much as 21 inches of rainfall during the growing season and others as little as 8.3 inches.
The testing program is supported by seed companies that submit varieties through the MU Division of Plant Sciences and Technology and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
Beyond yield comparisons, the trials also provide important data for disease management, particularly for fusarium head blight, a key concern for Missouri wheat growers. The variety testing work complements ongoing fungicide research by MU Extension.
Wheat remains an important crop in Missouri’s rotation systems, especially for double-crop operations. The state ranks 14th nationally in winter wheat production, with the Bootheel region accounting for some of the highest harvest volumes each year.
Source: University of Missouri, "Strong yields in early SE Missouri wheat trials"