Considering that germination was poor last fall and cold, snowy weather continued into April, Manitoba winter wheat growers are pleased with yields this summer.
Combines have been out for several days in the eastern half of the province, particularly in the areas between Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg. So far, winter wheat growers are reporting yields between 75 to 100 bushels per acre.
“Ours is running between 75 and 80,” said Rick Rutherford, who planted 500 acres of winter wheat on his farm near Grosse Isle, Man.
Rutherford expects to finish combining today. The crop is producing average yields, low levels of fusarium head blight and higher than usual protein content.
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“We haven’t had ours checked but that’s the rule of thumb, the protein seems to be a bit higher this year…. We’re happy with our crop.”
The average to above average yields are somewhat surprising because dry conditions last fall hindered winter wheat germination across Manitoba, particularly in the western half of the province.
Jake Davidson, Winter Cereals Manitoba executive director, said Hutterite Colonies in the Elie and Portage la Prairie area are reporting winter wheat yields as high as 100 bu. per acre.
“They seem pretty pleased with the yields that they’re getting,” Davidson said.
The Manitoba average for winter wheat is around 65 bu. per acre, but the average in the Red River Valley is significantly higher, Davidson explained.
“The closer you get to Winnipeg… your numbers start to go up. There are people who do well over a hundred (bu. per acre) south of Winnipeg.”
Doug Martin, of East Selkirk, Man., said patchy germination produced an uneven winter wheat crop on his farm. Yet, overall, his 600 acres look decent.
Martin, who plans to combine his winter wheat in a few days, said fusarium levels are lower than previous years thanks to cooler conditions this summer.
“My brother works for Bayer and he’s been in a lot of winter wheat fields and hasn’t seen much fusarium…. So for feed quality it will be good.”
In addition to decent yields, winter wheat prices are relatively strong right now.
Martin said elevators are offering $6.70 per bushel, which compares favourably to spring wheat.
“I just priced out some spring wheat and its seven bucks…. So there isn’t a whole lot of spread.”
That spread could be narrowed further if winter wheat growers receive a protein premium of 10 to 20 cents per bushel.
Even though it was a cooler and wetter summer, winter wheat growers in Manitoba are reporting protein levels above 12 percent.
Outside of the Red River Valley winter wheat growers in the western half of Manitoba will have to wait a little longer before combining begins, Davidson said.
However, there will be less winter wheat to harvest in western Manitoba because growers re-seeded thousands of acres this spring.
In many locations the crop didn’t survive the winter because it failed to germinate during extremely dry conditions last fall.
