McFadden Symposium 2025

Anticipating change: Utilizing new tools and traits to secure the future of wheat

McFadden Symposium 2025

Wheat Field Aerial photo

The McFadden Symposium is held biennially to memorialize Edgar S. McFadden and learn from leading wheat scientists who continue his legacy of service to the industry. This important gathering provides an opportunity for the public and private sectors to discuss current issues in wheat improvement, facilitates collaborative research and teaching activities, and promotes graduate student development through poster presentations and interactions with top scientists in the field. Guest speakers at the symposium and workshop will discuss wheat improvement, wheat germplasm exchange, and critical issues facing wheat production.

SEE THE AGENDA

Monday, March 3, 2025
7:30 am – 7 pm

Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, Lincoln, Nebraska

Conference Registration

Conference Fee

  • $150 for Professionals
  • $75 for Postdocs and students

REGISTER NOW

Accomodations

The Scarlet, Lincoln, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
2101 Transformation Drive Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, 68508
(402) 475-4011

Book your hotel group rate for McFadden Symposium

Poster Abstract Submission Form

Submit your poster abstract now

POSTERS

  • The poster format must be 48" in height x 36" in width.
  • The author will bring their poster printed.
  • Posters need to be set up beginning at 8 am.
  • Poster Session will be from 4 – 5:30 pm. Poster presenters should be present during this time.

Agenda

Monday, March 3

TimeEvent
7:30 – 8:30 amRegistration, Bagels and Fruit available
Poster set-up
8:30 – 9 amWelcome
Dr. Katherine Frels, Assistant Professor, UNL
Dr. Derek McLean, Dean Ag Research Division, UNL
Royce Schaneman, Nebraska Wheat Board
9:00 – 10:20 am

Morning Session 1 : Auditorium

9:00 am: Dr. Romulo Lollato, Associate Professor, Kansas State, “Sustainability across the wheat value chain from data-driven and stakeholders’ perspectives”

9:25 am:  Dr. Maitiniyazi Maimaitijiang, Assistant Professor, South Dakota State University, “From Pixel to Prediction: Advancing Wheat Breeding with AI-Driven Insights”

9:50 am: Flash talk speakers 1 through 7

10:20 – 10:35 amBreak 
10:35 am – 12 pm

Morning Session 2: Auditorium

10:35 am: Dr. Devin Rose, Professor, UNL, “High fiber wheat alters gut microbiota composition and function in a dose-dependent manner”

11:05 am
Dr. Ellen Melson, Postdoctoral research associate, Texas A&M University, “Monitoring Hessian fly parasitoid populations in Texas”

Dr. Pin-Chu Lai, Assistant Professor, UNL, “Managing Wheat Stem Sawfly through Biological Control with Parasitoid Wasps”

11:30 am: Flash talk speakers 8 through 13

12 – 1 pmLunch: Banquet Hall
1 – 2:20 pm

Afternoon Session 1: Lower-level breakout rooms

Room A1: USWBSI Hard Winter Wheat CP Planning Session

Room A2: SAWFLIES CAP Planning Session – Developing Extension and Education Tools

Room A3: Breeding for End-Use Quality 

Meet at Registration Table: Innovation Campus Greenhouse Tour

2:20 – 2:40 pmBreak
2:40 – 4 pm

Afternoon Session 2: Lower-level breakout rooms

Room A1: Stem Rust Resistance – Current status and future objectives 

Room A2: WheatCAP planning – Hard winter wheat regional objectives

Room A3: Wheat Virus Working Group

Meet at Registration Table: UNL Food Processing Center Tour

4 – 5:30 pmPoster session: Banquet Hall
5:45 – 7:30 pm

Closing Banquet: Banquet Hall

6:20 pm: Dr. Tom Clemente, Professor, UNL 

Speakers

  1. Avatar for Thomas Clemente
    Eugene W. Price Distinguished Professor of Biotechnology, Center for Plant Science Innovation Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    BEAD N308
    Lincoln NE 68588-0665
    Phone
    Work 402-472-1428 On-campus 2-1428
    Email
    tclemente1@unl.edu
    Website
    Website
Pin-Chu Lai

Pin-Chu Lai

Assistant Professor, Entomology, Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center

Romulo Lollato

Romulo Lollato

Associate Professor, Extension Wheat and Forages Specialist, Department of Agronomy Kansas State University 

Maitiniyazi Maimaitijiang

Maitiniyazi Maimaitijiang

Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University

Ellen Melson

Ellen Melson

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife Research

  1. Avatar for Devin Rose
    Associate Professor Food Science & Technology University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    FIC 1901 N 21st St Rm 268
    Lincoln NE 68588-6205
    Phone
    Work 402-472-2802 On-campus 2-2802
    Email
    drose3@unl.edu
    Website

Thank you to Our Sponsors

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Texas A&M University logo
South Dakota State University logo
University of Nebraska–Lincoln logo