Exploring Innovation in Wheat Production: 2025 Southern Piedmont Small Grains Field Day

A crisp spring morning in Union County set the stage for the 2025 Southern Piedmont Small Grains Field Day, where farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals gathered among small plots of wheat to explore the latest advancements in the research over the last few years that the local N.C. Cooperative Extension Field Crop Agent Morgan Menaker conducted.

The field day, hosted in collaboration with N.C. Cooperative Extension—Union County and the North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association, took place in a working wheat field. It offered participants a firsthand look at current research trials and best practices for managing small grains in the Southern Piedmont.

Morgan welcomed attendees, along with Nikki Johnson, Executive Director of the Small Grain Growers Association, and emphasized the importance of supporting research and trials for growers across the county and state.

Experts on-site, including Union County Extension Director Andrew Baucom, Field Crop Agent Morgan Menaker, Dr. Christina Cowger, and Dr. Angela Post, led presentations and facilitated in-field discussions on critical issues such as fungicide application timing, Fusarium head blight (head scab) fungicide efficacy, and wheat variety trials. Attendees also explored the results of an ongoing Nitrogen rate x variety interaction study, which seeks to optimize yield potential while maintaining input efficiency.

Dr. Cowger, a small grains pathologist, addressed the persistent challenge of head scab and shared research comparing fungicide efficacy at different application stages. Dr. Post, an extension specialist in small grains agronomy, and Andrew Baucom discussed the impact of nitrogen rates on performance across various wheat varieties. They provided insight into tailoring fertility practices for specific conditions.

Ryan Heiniger, regional agronomist NC State University, Official Variety Testing Program Director, and two graduate students from NC State added depth to the field day by sharing data from ongoing trials and offering practical perspectives on how their research has been conducted and potential applications at the farm level.

Participants walked the field plots, asked questions, and discussed improving management decisions based on local data. The event reinforced Extension’s commitment to bridging research and real-world farming needs across the region.

The Southern Piedmont Small Grains Field Day is one of several events throughout the year that highlight Union County’s strong agricultural community and the collaborative efforts of farmers, Extension agents, and university researchers working to support it.

For information on upcoming field days or small grains research, contact the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Union County Center.