Early maturing varieties are more likely to escape damage from hot winds, drought, and rust. They are more subject to late spring freezes, however. Producers with large acreages can spread harvest by using varieties of differing maturity. Varieties or hybrids that flower earlier than Jagger or later than Arapahoe may run into production difficulties in Kansas from frost damage to heads and late-season hot winds, respectively. Wheat is most subject to damage from cold temperatures in the fall before wheat hardens, and in the spring after growth starts.
Varieties do differ in their susceptibility to freeze damage.
For example, Vona is one of the least winterhardy varieties grown on a significant acreage in Kansas in recent years. The hardiest varieties include Arapahoe, Karl 92, Tomahawk, Champ, and 2137. Disease and Insect Resistance. Genetic resistance to insects and diseases is an excellent control method when such resistance is available. Hessian fly, wheat streak mosaic, soilborne mosaic, stem and leaf rusts, speckled leaf blotch, tan spot, and other diseases can and do cause serious losses in the Kansas wheat crop.