USDA ARS Wheat Quality Laboratories

USDA ARS Wheat Quality Laboratories

 The United States is the fourth largest producer of wheat in the world (now behind Russia) with an annual production of 55 million metric tons in 2014, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The total harvested US wheat acreage in 2016 was 43.9 million in 2016 down from the high of 56 million in 2008 (source: National Association of Wheat Growers).

The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) conducts wheat quality research through four strategically-located regional Wheat Quality Laboratories (WQLs) as part of the National Program in Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products.  Each WQL focuses on wheat types commonly grown in its region:

• Western Wheat Quality Laboratory (WWQL) in Pullman, Washington for the Pacific West/Far West region
• Hard Winter Wheat Quality Laboratory (HWWQL) in Manhattan, Kansas for the Great Plains region
• Hard Spring and Durum Wheat Quality Laboratory (HSDWQL) in Fargo, North Dakota for the Northern region
• Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory (SWQL) in Wooster, Ohio for the Eastern region

The mission of the USDA ARS Wheat Quality Laboratories is to advance the quality and utilization of wheat grain in the U.S. for the betterment of U.S. consumers, farmers, and milling, baking, and processing industries. 

 Below are links to summary descriptions for each laboratory.

	Western Wheat Quality Laboratory (WWQL) Pullman, Washington
	Hard Winter Wheat Quality Laboratory (HWWQL) Manhattan, Kansas
	Hard Spring and Durum Wheat Quality Laboratory (HSDWQL) Fargo, North Dakota
	Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory (SWQL) Wooster, Ohio

Click here to see guidelines for wheat sample assessments.