** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE AVAILABILITY OF IMPROVED CULTIVARS IS FUNDAMENTAL TO INCREASING WHEAT ACRES AND PROFITABILITY. PLANT BREEDING HAS THREE PHASES: POPULATION IMPROVEMENT, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION. WE PROPOSE TO ESTABLISH A LARGE MULTI-ENVIRONMENT TRIAL, CALLED THE BIG6, THAT ENHANCES ALL PHASES AND EFFICIENTLY PRODUCE NEW CULTIVARS. THE BIG6 WILL TEST 370 LINES PER YEAR AND BE GROWN AT UP TO NINE LOCATIONS. THIS WILL ASSESS THE STABILITY AND THE BROAD AND LOCAL ADAPTATION OF THE LINES. THE BIG6 WILL TEST ALL ADVANCED LINES FROM SIX PROGRAMS AND 250 EARLY-STAGE LINES. TESTING EARLY-STAGE LINES IN IN THE BIG6 WILL ALLOW US TO IDENTIFY PROMISING LINES A YEAR OR MORE EARLIER THAN BEFORE. THIS ALLOWS US TO INITIATE LARGE COMMERCIALIZATION PRODUCTION SOONER SO THAT RELEASED CULTIVARS CAN REACH LARGE GROWER ACREAGE QUICKLY. THE INCLUSION OF EARLY-STAGE LINES AND THE NUMBER OF TEST SITES PER YEAR IN THE BIG6 TRIAL EFFECTIVELY SHORTENS THE DURATION OF THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION PHASES. THE BIG6 TRIAL ALSO PROVIDES A LARGE GENOMIC SELECTION (GS) TRAINING POPULATION WITH HIGH CONNECTIVITY AMONG ALL ENVIRONMENTS. WE WILL USE GS TO PREDICT THE VALUE OF ALL LINES FROM ALL PROGRAMS. THE PREDICTIONS WILL BE USED IN ADVANCEMENT DECISIONS AND TO SELECT PARENTS FROM EARLY STAGES TO SHORTEN THE POPULATION IMPROVEMENT PHASE. WE ANTICIPATE THAT UP TO 20 NEW CULTIVARS COULD RESULT FROM THIS PROJECT. THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE AFRI GOAL OF INCREASING GROWER ACCESS TO NEW CULTIVARS WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL ADAPTATION AND THE NEEDS OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.