The predictable correlation between high yields and reduced protein is holding true for this year’s wheat crop.
The Canadian Grain Commission says that based on 1,652 wheat samples tested as of Oct. 21, the spring wheat crop is averaging 13.3 percent protein across all grades.
That’s down from 14.2 percent in 2003 and 14.6 percent in 2002. Those numbers represent final statistics for those years, involving more than 4,000 samples.
The average yield of spring wheat this year, according to Statistics Canada’s Sept. 15 survey, is 35.4 bushels per acre, up from 32.9 bu. in 2003.
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The commission notes that the samples tested to date were all probably harvested before Oct. 7.
The biggest drop in protein content is in Saskatchewan, averaging 12.9 percent, down from 14.1 percent. That corresponds to an increase in yields in the province to 30.3 this year, up from 26.7 bu. per acre.
Protein content is highest in Alberta at 13.8 percent, although that’s still lower than last year’s 14.2 percent. In Manitoba, the average is 13.6 percent, down from 14.2 percent.
The average for the limited supplies of No. 1 CWRS is 13.3 percent for Western Canada, down from 14.2 last year. For No. 2 CWRS, the average so far is 13.4 percent, down from 13.9.
Durum protein numbers are also down this year, averaging 12.5 percent for all grades in Western Canada, compared with 13.6 percent last year. That is based on 540 samples tested by the commission.
