A worker walking through a mature wheat field.

Western Wheat Quality Laboratory

of U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service

Our Mission

Our mission is to collaborate with breeders, geneticists, and pathologists across seven western states—Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington—to evaluate the milling and baking quality of wheat selections produced each year. Our investigations focus on various wheat classes grown in the Pacific Northwest and Western Region, with the goal of improving commercial production and consumer acceptance, ultimately supporting the long-term success of the wheat industry.

Our Focus


Wheat plots being harvested in the field.

Cultivar Development

WWQL uses validated end-use quality methods to support improvement of wheat and pulse varieties for producers, millers, and processors.

Wheat research group harvesting headrows in the field.

Research

WWQL works with public and private partners to develop new germplasm and methods to identify novel end-use quality and nutritional characteristics.

News & Recent Publications