The WSU Variety Testing Program’s (VTP) 2026 winter variety trial maps and plot locations have been posted to the Wheat and Small Grains website. The website includes links to Google Maps pins for each of the locations, as well as driving directions and plot schematics.
We received a lot of feedback last year about how difficult it is to print off the new format of the maps on the website. To request wheat trial maps and schematics in a printable format, please contact Tricia Demacon by email. Paper copies of plot maps are available in the PVC tubes attached to the Variety Testing signs at each location.
There were some changes made to locations planted for the 2026 harvest year. The previously named “CLOAX” is now called Traited Soft White Wheat. Fall planted DNS and winter barley trials have been put on an indefinite pause. VTP’s current bandwidth is limited, and we have made the difficult decision to discontinue these trials for the time being. Additionally, based on an analysis of VTP data from 2012 – 2023, we have chosen to re-organize our dryland trials into two mega-environments to improve data analysis and delivery, low rainfall (<16”) and high rainfall (>16”), in addition to irrigated trials. We dropped the winter Farmington location but added Dayton and Kahlotus locations back to the trials. The Kahlotus location is a replacement for the Connell location dropped in 2025. Due to difficult planting conditions this fall, the Douglas and Moses Lake sites were moved to new locations so please be aware that some sites are not in their “usual” spots.
We would like to thank all of you for your continued support of our program over the last year as we continue to make adjustments and changes to improve the efficiency and quality of the Variety Testing Program. A huge thank you to our grower-cooperators for letting us continue to plant trials on their land and for helping find great spots for some of these new locations. A special thanks to the Washington Grain Commission for their continued and generous support of our program. Finally, many thanks to the WSU Winter Wheat and USDA-ARS Club Wheat breeding programs for planting joint sites with us. This allows us to increase locations and better help fulfill the mission of the Variety Testing Program.
As always, your comments and feedback are always welcomed and heard, so please continue to reach out to us.
Tricia Demacon
Scientific Assistant Senior
USDA-ARS Club Wheat Breeding Program
Washington State University
patricia.demacon@wsu.edu