By Blake Jackson
Wheat test weight is a key measure of grain quality, directly influencing marketability, pricing, and milling performance. Higher test weights generally yield better flour extraction rates and can result in higher prices for farmers, while lower test weights often lead to discounts from grain buyers.
Test weight also affects the nutritional value and energy content of wheat when used as livestock feed, although this effect is less pronounced than in other grains like corn.
Genetics play a significant role in determining wheat test weight. Broad-sense heritability estimates often exceed 70% and can be above 90%, highlighting that the trait is largely controlled by genetic factors.
This high heritability makes test weight a reliable characteristic for wheat breeding programs. In comparison, wheat yield has moderate heritability, typically ranging from 30% to 70%, and is influenced more heavily by environmental conditions.
While test weight can still be affected by growing conditions, the strong genetic component allows breeders to select varieties with consistently higher test weights. Growers, likewise, can use this information when choosing wheat varieties to plant, prioritizing both grain yield and quality.
The University of Kentucky’s annual wheat variety testing program evaluates wheat varieties for multiple traits, including grain, forage, and straw yield, disease resistance, and test weight.
In recent years, environmental factors in Kentucky have led to reductions in test weight, causing price dockages for farmers. Although many farmers focus primarily on high grain yield when selecting varieties, some wheat varieties achieve both high yield and superior test weight, providing a dual benefit.
Variety testing results, including the top 20 highest yielding varieties sorted by test weight, are available to assist growers in making informed planting decisions.
Data can be accessed through the University of Kentucky Variety Testing website at https://varietytesting.ca.uky.edu/wheat. By considering both yield and test weight, farmers can optimize profitability while ensuring grain quality and milling performance.
Photo Credit: istock-zhaojiankang
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Wheat