The winter conference of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture’s Wheat Science Group will reflect on the record wheat crop of 2005 and preview new and emerging issues for 2006. “Analysis of a Great Wheat Crop” will kick-off activities at this year’s program to be held Jan. 10, at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton. Kentucky farmers produced 20.4 million bushels of winter wheat in 2005 and attained a record yield of 68 bushels per acre.Presenters at the annual meeting include members of the UK Wheat Science Group, an interdisciplinary group of specialists who work together to address the needs of Kentucky’s wheat producers.Topics will also include an update of the UK wheat breeding program and unique aspects of the UK wheat variety testing program. Polymer-coated urea and other nitrogen issues will be addressed along with the practice of growing wheat for straw.Pest topics include an update on stripe rust and fungicide, factors affecting ryegrass control and crop injury, and successfully storing high-quality wheat. An update on overall grain quality issues will be presented by an industry representative.Most of Kentucky’s winter wheat acreage is double-cropped with soybeans. With the recent arrival of Asian soybean rust in the United States, a UK economist will look at scenarios of wheat production in a post-soybean rust world.The meeting will conclude with a marketing outlook discussion.Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The conference begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided by the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association.There have been four certified crop adviser credits approved for the meeting: 0.5 in nutrient management, 1 in pest management and 2.5 in crop management. One specific pesticide applicator credit in category 1 has been approved.For more information contact Dottie Call, Wheat Science Group coordinator, at 270-365-7541 ext. 234 or dcall@uky.edu.