Making the case for federal support of wheat research GARDEN CITY, KAN. (hppr) - Wheat researchers, growers and industry folks from across the country are in Washington D.C. this week to stress to lawmakers the importance of publicly funded wheat research.

The group of more than 40 wheat advocates, organized by the National Association of Wheat Growers, is trying to help secure $1.2 billion for the USDA's Agriculture Research Service.

Varieties of wheat developed by public research programs can be found on more than 75 percent of wheat acreage in the United States. TAM 111, the leading variety in Kansas this year, was developed through the Texas A&M University system.

Paul Penner, former president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, is with the group in Washington. In a conference call with reporters, he said Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kan., also plays a leading role in wheat research.

"It's the primary place where genome sequencing is taking place and germ plasm research data is held," Penner said.

Brett Carver, with Oklahoma State University, said federal support is a key for collaboration between research universities, including a new partnership to exchange germ plasm, the genetic resource for plants.

"This is a critical part of developing new and improved wheat varieties, is to be able to exchange germ plasm with each other," Carver said.

Disease and pest resistance, drought tolerance and seed quality are some of the obstacles wheat research looks to overcome. About 55 million U.S. acres are devoted to wheat, and each region of the country faces different problems.

A large investment of public funds was recently announced for research into wheat. In January, a USDA grant program, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, pledged $25 million over the next five years.
© Copyright 2013, hppr