Spring Wheat Protein, Weight Testing Positive

By CnAgri2012-08-08 19:33:08 Print

Nearly half of the U.S. spring wheat crop has been harvested as of the first week of August, well ahead of the five-year average of 12 percent. Harvest is nearly complete in South Dakota at 96 percent and Minnesota at 80 percent. Harvest climbed past the halfway point in North Dakota with 52 percent of the crop harvested, followed by Montana with 11 percent harvested. Weather conditions were mostly favorable for harvest progress last week, but some areas did receive rain showers with a few locations seeing strong winds and hail.

The first of the Crop Quality Survey samples have been collected and analyzed at the North Dakota State University Cereal Science lab showing strong protein levels and test weights. Only 10 percent of the samples have been analyzed, indicating an average protein level of 14.4 percent, with a range of 12 to 17 percent. Test weight average is 60.9 pounds per bushel (80.1 kg/hl), higher than last year's final average. Falling numbers have been strong with an average of 429 seconds and vitreous kernel content is averaging 79 percent.

The durum harvest in North Dakota is 26 percent complete with early reports indicating higher than average yields. Of the crop that hasn't been harvested, 59 percent is rated in good to excellent condition. In Montana, harvest is just getting underway with 5 percent of the crop harvested. Fifty-one percent of the Montana crop is rated in good to excellent condition.