LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Wheat Program (MWP) is issuing its annual call for research proposals to keep Michigan wheat farmers on the cutting edge of production and competitive in the marketplace. All proposals are due by close of business Aug. 21 to be considered for funding this year.

“In the last 15 years, the Michigan Wheat Program has invested over $6 million in about 210 research projects,” said Jeffery Krohn, the Owendale-area farmer who chairs the nine-member Michigan Wheat Program Board of Directors. “Again this year, we’re looking for projects that address the productivity, profitability and quality of wheat grown in Michigan’s unique climate. The board is also seeking collaborative projects that reflect researchers’ abilities to engage the expertise of other researchers, other universities and cutting-edge wheat producers in on-farm research projects.”

The MWP board is particularly seeking collaborative research projects that leverage grower dollars to address production issues including assessing high-management techniques; evaluating the efficacy of fungicides, herbicides and insecticides; increasing yield potential; improving disease resistance/control to increase grain quality; and identifying necessary plant nutrients that may be limiting yield.

MWP’s board is also interested in market-driven projects that focus on current domestic and export wheat opportunities, value-added applications, nutrition and other new uses of winter wheat.

To date, most MWP-funded projects have been at Michigan State University, although the board is open to researchers in other public institutions or private entities pursuing projects that reflect Michigan’s growing conditions and priorities, according to executive director Jody Pollok-Newsom.

“We need research results that are available to wheat farmers right now to help them with the challenges they’re facing in their fields and with their bottom lines,” Pollok-Newsom said.

The full Request for Proposal (RFP), proposal template, priority research areas, the budget submission form and the final report template can be found under the researcher tab up in the top row of options on the website at www.miwheat.org.  Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the 21st for review at the MWP board meeting. After proposals are reviewed, a presentation may be requested. The board will consider research requests only at its early September meeting.

Michigan ranks 8th in the nation for wheat production. The record average yield in the Great Lakes State is 90 bushels per acre, compared to 55 bushels per acre nationwide. Michigan growers benefit from wheat processing in five mills in the state that add value to the commodity, along with several end-users located in the Great Lakes region. For more wheat information go to: www.miwheat.org.