The Economic Impact of the Oklahoma State University Wheat Breeding Program

Oklahoma State University’s wheat breeding program develops wheat varieties in response to disease and pest pressures and industry demands for quality. The economic impact on Oklahoma wheat producers has not been studied. We estimate the impact of OSU wheat varieties on Oklahoma wheat yields, yield variability, and returns to producers, 2007–2023. The breeding program increased the state’s wheat output by 0.75 bu ac −1 per year on OSU variety acres, and increased producer revenue by an annual average of $5.81 million (in 2023$). It generated a total benefit of $99M. Every dollar invested in the program returned $10.02 to wheat producers.