A South Dakota wheat breeder credited with helping save millions of people from starvation was honored this past weekend. South Dakota State University dedicated a new sculpture honoring Edgar McFadden. McFadden developed the rust-resistant wheat variety called Hope in 1925. After USDA cut funding for his plant-breeding position, McFadden mortgaged his own farm to continue his research. Hope later became the foundation for higher-yielding, rust-resistant wheat varieties. Reader’s Digest estimated McFadden’s work helped prevent starvation for more than 25 million people and saved U.S. farmers $400 million in crop losses.
