Michigan Wheat Program issues call for research proposals

Lansing, Mich.(July 29, 2025) -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 August 15^thto be considered for funding this year.

"In the last fourteen years, the Michigan Wheat Program has already invested nearly $5.5 million in about 185 research projects," said Jeffery Krohn, the Owendale-area farmer who chairs the nine-member board. "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," said Pollok-Newsom.

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

About the Michigan Wheat Program

The Michigan Wheat Program is a state-check off program voted in by the state's wheat farmers to assess each bushel of wheat grown and sold. The funds from the program are utilized to further the wheat industry in the state benefitting the state's nearly 8,000 wheat farmers who grow about 450,000 acres of wheat annually producing about a 40 million bushel crop.