FARGO, N.D. (Reuters) — Yield potential for spring wheat grown in the northern U.S. Plains is projected to be the highest on record, according to results from an annual crop tour.
Scouts on the Wheat Quality Council’s three-day tour of North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota found a crop that is benefiting from timely planting, good moisture and cool weather.
They projected an average hard red spring wheat yield of 49.9 bushels per acre, exceeding the tour’s 2014 forecast of 48.6 bu. and its previous five-year average of 45.2 bu.
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The forecast was the biggest in the history of the tour, which dates back to 1992. Last year’s projection had been the biggest up to that point.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the actual harvest yield last year was 47.5 bu. per acre.
“We had good moisture since the spring, and cool weather,” said Ben Handcock, executive director of the Wheat Quality Council.
“It made bigger heads and bigger kernels than usual, which makes bigger yields.”
Yields for durum were forecast at 39.2 bu. per acre, up from 36.6 last year.
Protein content was not expected to be great because the crop typically needs to go through periods of stress to boost protein.
Additionally, heavy storms and high winds knocked down wheat plants in many areas of North Dakota, which will slow harvest and add to farmers’ expenses, Handcock said.
The yield projections were based on tour assessments of 422 spring wheat fields and 16 durum fields.
“The yield is consistent with what people expected,” said Erica Olson, a marketing specialist with the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
“For once we had early planting, and that’s good for yield.”
Disease pressure was low because producers were vigilant about applying fungicide, Olson said.
MGEX spring wheat futures have been falling as the U.S. spring wheat crop enjoys good growing conditions and Canada’s crop in the western Prairies recently received needed moisture.
