Despite below average protein content in the 2009 wheat crop, the Canadian Wheat Board says it will be able to meet demand from traditional high quality customers.
And the marketing agency says supplies of lower protein wheat will provide it with a product to offer to customers who don’t want high protein.
This year’s red spring wheat crop is expected to have a protein level of 13.2 percent, according to figures published by the Canadian Grain Commission Oct. 15.
That’s slightly lower than last year’s 13.4 percent; the previous 10-year average is 13.8 percent.
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Bruce Burnett, chief of market analysis for the CWB, said that should present no marketing issues for the board.
“Although we won’t have huge quantities of high protein, we shouldn’t have any problems supplying our high quality, high protein customers,” he said.
He added high protein wheat should fetch a good premium in the market this year.
The overall quality of the 2009 crop will be slightly above average, with 75 to 80 percent of the wheat falling into the 1 CWRS and 2 CWRS grades.
That doesn’t include the estimated 12 percent of the crop still out in the fields as of last week, which will be downgraded.
Burnett said the lower protein spring wheat crop in North America will produce a good premium for high protein.
In the latest pool return outlook for 2009-10, 1 CWRS 14.5 percent protein is $263 a tonne ($7.16 a bushel), while 1 CWRS 11.5 percent is $44 a tonne lower at $219 ($5.82).
Lawrence Klusa, manager of quality control for the CWB, said the lower protein wheat will give the board some variety to offer to buyers around the world.
“We have a lot of customers that are interested in the lower protein,” he said. “This will give us an opportunity to provide them what they’re looking for.”
Protein is lowest in Saskatchewan, where most prairie wheat is grown, at 12.6 percent, while both Manitoba and Alberta are at 13.6
percent.
Protein levels are also down in the durum crop, with CWAD averaging 12.8 percent, versus 13.2 percent in 2008. Top grade 1 CWAD is 12.9 percent, down from 13.5 last year.
The CGC’s protein numbers are based on samples sent in by farmers under the commission’s sample harvest program.
The numbers are based on 2,021 samples of spring wheat and 668 samples of durum, and reflect conditions as of the beginning of October.
Twylla Pawlinsky, the CGC’s program manager for analytical services, said the protein numbers are unlikely to change much in the next report at the beginning of November.
“The trend has been that after about 1,000 samples, the number don’t change much,” she said.
The CGC sent out a total of 28,000 sample packages to producers and as of last week had received back about 7,000, covering all grains, oilseeds and special crops. Producers are to return their samples by Nov. 1.
