Spring Wheat Harvest Nearing Completion

By CnAgri2012-08-22 19:49:33 Print

Harvest of the U.S. spring wheat crop is nearing completion with nearly 80 percent harvested, well ahead of the average of 40 percent. The majority of the harvest should be completed by the end of August. Only North Dakota and Montana have areas left to harvest. Harvest in North Dakota is 83 percent complete and harvest in Montana is 65 percent complete. Producer reports continue to indicate strong yields.

Crop quality samples continue to be analyzed at North Dakota State University, with roughly half of the samples analyzed. This week's quality data showed very little change from the previous week. Average protein remains at 14.7 percent and test weight and thousand kernel weights increased slightly this week to 61 pounds per bushel (80.2 kg/hl) and 29.5 grams respectively. Average falling number remains higher than average at 448 seconds. Very few damaged kernels have been seen in the samples and shrunken and broken kernels stand at 1.1 percent. The crop currently grades a No. 1 Dark Northern Spring.

Northern durum harvest continues at a fairly swift pace with about 60 percent of the North Dakota crop and 58 percent of the Montana crop harvested. So far about one-fourth of the crop quality samples have been analyzed at NDSU indicating a crop that so far grads a No. 1 Hard Amber Durum. The test weight is averaging 60 pounds per bushel (78.1 kg/hl) and vitreous kernel content is 93 percent. Thousand kernel weights are slightly higher than last year's average at 35.6 grams and falling numbers are averaging above 400 seconds. Very little damage has been seen so far, with most of the defects being shrunken and broken kernels at 1.2 percent. Average protein is 14.8 percent. Quality factors will likely continue to change as more of the samples are analyzed.