Wheat variety selection sets the stage for the entire crop, but there is no single “silver bullet” variety, explained Dennis Pennington, wheat specialist with Michigan State University Extension. Instead, choosing the right wheat is about balancing yield potential, disease resistance, and agronomic fit for the farm. Manage for Major DiseasesTwo diseases consistently top the list for Midwest and Plains wheat: fusarium head blight (head scab) and wheat streak mosaic virus. Erick DeWolf, Kansas State UniversityWheat streak mosaic, spread by the wheat curl mite, can devastate crops if volunteer wheat isn’t controlled. “Breaking the green bridge by making sure volunteer wheat is dead two weeks before planting is the best defense,” Lubbers explained.