NASDA enumerators count up wheat in Oklahoma Governor’s Wheat Challenge

News Article – 05/27/2020

In an effort to highlight Oklahoma’s wheat industry and the leading wheat research that is done in the state, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is hosting the “Governor’s Wheat Challenge.” ODAFF has worked with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma State University to plant two plots of wheat in front of the ODAFF building. One plot is the Governor’s and the other is the Lieutenant Governor’s. They selected different varieties and have been checking on their wheat to watch it grow. When harvested, ODAFF will evaluate how each plot performed and determine a “winner.”

After planting and the wheat began to emerge, ODAFF hosted an event to allow guests to learn more about the crop. The event featured “bread tasting” to show the differences in varieties. ODAFF also plans to hold a Facebook Live event, likely sometime next week, to demonstrate harvest.

NASDA employees assisted in surveying the wheat for the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.