Oklahoma Wheat Research Genetics Foundation Chair
Hints of Brett Carver’s research are in your kitchen right now.
His name may not be familiar, but his product is certainly well-known.
Carver, agricultural Regents professor and holder of the Oklahoma Wheat Research Genetics Foundation chair, leads the charge on the university’s research and production of wheat varieties.
Varieties grown by farmers around the world. Varieties consumed by people from nearly every continent. Varieties improving the overall caliber of wheat products and bringing prestige to Oklahoma State University.
When Carver arrived at OSU in 1985 as a quantitative geneticist, he had never traveled west of the Mississippi River and did not know anything about Oklahoma agriculture.
Fast forward to 2006.
Today, Carver’s name is legendary within the wheat community and synonymous with success.
With a focus on service to the American farmer, his research centers on design breeding and engineering the highest quality wheat product. With “offices” from Lahoma to Goodwell, Carver’s understanding of the industry is revered by both his colleagues and his constituency.
“Dr. Carver is the top researcher and wheat breeder in the southern Great Plains,” said Mark Hodges, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. “He is an excellent leader and understands the importance of producing a high-quality end result.”
While his efforts and those of his team have led to the successful production of 15 wheat varieties since his arrival at OSU, they may not sound too impressive considering his 22 year tenure within the program.
Yet, consider this – the average variety takes 12 years to fully develop. Evidence that demonstrates staggering results from a highly successful team.
As Chair holder since 1998, Carver credits much of his program’s success to a concerted team effort and a solid investment in the program through the wheat genetics chair.
“You cannot underestimate the value in our research that’s impacted through the funding of this chair,” said Carver.
He continued, “if you look at our production trends, you will note accelerated variety-release activity since the mid 90s. This impact was first felt from proceeds of the Wheat Genetics Chair endowment in the early 1990s. This synchronous pattern is no coincidence.”
The visionary benefactors behind the endowed chair were: Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation, Union Equity Co-op and Okeene wheat farmer Owen Wimberly.
“This gift was made as a commitment by the industry as a whole, because we must continue to invest in the future – and our future is in the varieties,” said Hodges. “There is nobody better suited to hold this chair than Dr. Carver, and we believe he is the future of the wheat industry from that varietal standpoint.”
Funds from the chair support research, equipment, and travel. But Carver believes the greatest impact of the chair is its longevity.
“The Wheat Genetics program is one of the few in the agricultural college that has been ongoing for over 50 years, which is a unique and critical factor in our efforts to constantly build upon the progress of yesterday,” noted Carver. “This is not stop and go research. The endowment helps to maintain research over a period of six decades.”
Wheat producers in the southern Great Plains now have more options when it comes to variety selection thanks to Dr. Carver and his Wheat Improvement Team. With the successful production of 24 varieties since 1955, evidence indicates the program continues to gain momentum.
Momentum that has carried this Atlanta-born city boy a long way to the Oklahoma wheat fields.
“I’ve always known I had a passion for science and agriculture and always believed the field seemed to have value and potential to impact the world,” he said. “I’m proud to say that our work justifies that impact every day.”
OSU’s “Hallmark” Wheat Varieties
1955 Concho
1967 Agent
1977 Payne
1983 Chisholm
1994 Custer
1997 2174
2000 Intrada
2004 Endurance
2004 Deliver
2005 OK Bullet
2006 Duster
*24 varieties total produced at OSU
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