WSU wheat breeder offers farmers scientific solutions

If you're looking for a better variety of wheat, Aaron Carter is your man.

Carter, a recent doctoral graduate from Washington State University, was recently named the school's new winter wheat breeder. It's his job to come up with better varieties, more adapted to the local climate, more resistant to disease and higher quality.

"Typically, you are looking at adaptability, correct high-yield test weight, correct protein content and superior high-end use quality."

When farmers bring harvested wheat to warehouses a bushel or two is weighed. If the weight doesn't meet a standard of 60 pounds per bushel, the farmer is penalized in the price he gets. That is where wheat breeders come in.

"We want to make sure they have plump, full kernels," Carter said.

When it comes to protein content, hard wheats are supposed to be high in protein and soft varieties are supposed to be low.

Carter and other wheat breeders spend their time trying to come up with better varieties.

"We start by making different cross-hybridizations from different wheat plants from released cultivators or varieties we have in the breeding program."

He said they sometimes travel to places such as New York or Europe looking for different varieties to use in the breeding program.

"Everyone is trying to help their growers and release different varieties. Our goal is to find wheats adapted to different regions and get them in the hands of different growers."

On average, a new variety is released every few years. But Carter said it can take eight years or more for breeders to perfect them.

Carter didn't come from an agricultural background.

"I just always had an interest in science and plans and got started when I was an undergraduate in plant breeding and just loved it enough to continue on to where I am today."

He does spend a lot of his time talking to farmers and learning what they want in wheat varieties. He said most of them are busy with harvest now but he expects to meet more of them this winter.

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Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273.