PULLMAN, Wash. — Registration is now open for Washington State University’s popular Wheat Academy education program, running Dec. 12-13 on the Pullman campus.

The two-day program provides the science and the “why” behind researchers’ recommendations to farmers, said Drew Lyon, WSU weed science professor.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the program tended to fill up quickly.

“Last year we did not sell out, probably because we had skipped two years,” Lyon said. “Hopefully, people know we’re back again, they’re looking for it and we’ll fill up again this year.”

The event is limited to 72 participants, half growers and half industry representatives.

The agenda has 12 topics, people can select the eight of most interest to them. Wheat academy sessions go for an hour and a half, with hands-on activities.

“They’ll get more in-depth than they normally would with some topics,” Lyon said. “We have the wheat breeders all coming together to talk about breeding small grains; people will get a chance to actually try to make crosses in plants.”

Returning speakers include Randy Fortenbery, WSU’s Thomas B. Mick Endowed Chair in Small Grain Economics; and Oregon State University Extension soil scientist Don Wysocki, who will speak about dryland hemp production.

Several representatives of oilseed processor Viterra will talk about canola.

New this year is Carol McFarland, research associate at the Pacific Northwest Farmers Network, which shares innovations about soil health and cropping systems, leading an interactive discussion about conducting on-farm research.

“She’s not going to be telling people how to do it, it’s going to be more sitting around (asking), ‘How would we do this if this is a thing we want to do?’” Lyon said. “A lot of times, we’re just trying to verify what the growers have already discovered.”

Registration is $85 for growers and $170 for industry representatives.

https://smallgrains.wsu.edu/2023-wheat-academy/