Stillwater, Oklahoma – Oklahoma State University (OSU) has unveiled a new wheat variety, dubbed “Wyatt,” poised to enter the market this fall. The development, announced Thursday by OSU Agriculture, is being hailed as a significant advancement in wheat breeding, potentially offering farmers increased yields and resilience.
The variety, experimentally designated OK20708, is described by Dr. Brett Carver, wheat genetics chair and Regents professor in the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, as OSU’s most widely adapted wheat since the ‘Duster’ variety released in the early 2000s. “This variety will compete on the farm at the highest levels of yield potential,” Carver stated. He added that the variety’s strength and ability to remain standing in the field under challenging Oklahoma conditions led him to consider naming it “Heavyweight.”
The name “Wyatt” honors former OSU wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson, a national champion in 2025 and recipient of the Dan Hodge Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best collegiate wrestler. Hendrickson’s undefeated regular season record and championship performance resonated with the qualities OSU researchers sought to embody in the new wheat variety, according to the university.
The development of Wyatt is particularly noteworthy given its performance in USDA-Agricultural Research Service yield trials. Between 2020 and 2023, Wyatt consistently outperformed three other OSU varieties – Showdown, Smith’s Gold, and High Cotton – averaging five or more bushels per acre more than Showdown and six bushels per acre more than Smith’s Gold. In 2024 and 2025, Wyatt ranked as a top yielder across the Great Plains, from central Texas to Central South Dakota, including top rankings in Kansas and Nebraska, and Texas and South Dakota respectively.
Wyatt’s lineage traces back to Romanian variety FDL Miranda and OSU’s Smith’s Gold, inheriting strong yield characteristics from both. Miranda accounted for a significant portion of seed wheat production in Romania by 2017, while Smith’s Gold contributes stripe rust resistance.
OSU Agriculture highlighted Wyatt’s key attributes, including a large kernel size, excellent straw strength, and intermediate height. The variety exhibits moderate resistance to stripe rust and leaf rust, though fungicide application may be necessary in challenging environments. It also demonstrates good tolerance to grazing and recovery from grazing, making it versatile for different farming practices.
While possessing strong yield potential, Wyatt’s baking quality is described as variable, with slightly below average dough strength. Carver noted that the variety is best suited for commodity grain channels where it can be blended with other wheat varieties to achieve optimal baking performance. “Wyatt can provide good baking performance with a reasonable balance of dough strength and extensibility. That, combined with an exceptional kernel size, carries a dual benefit for both farmers and millers,” he said.
The announcement of the new wheat variety coincided with the ongoing OSU wrestling season, with the team preparing to compete against Virginia Tech on Sunday in Blacksburg, Virginia. OSU Wrestling expressed gratitude for the honor, stating that it exemplifies the “Cowboy Code” in action.
Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture, emphasized the university’s commitment to developing resilient wheat varieties. He also alluded to the need for modernized facilities, stating, “If we can create the heavyweight champion of wheat with outdated facilities, imagine what we can do with modernized facilities.” OSU is currently investing in the future of its wheat breeding program through the Agronomy Discovery Center, which will include new greenhouses and a research center.
