MANDAN, N.D. — Harvest of the U.S. spring wheat crop is almost complete, with 95 percent of the crop harvested. Conditions the first half of this week look to remain hot and dry which should allow most of the remaining harvest to be completed. Harvest by state ranges from 94 percent in North Dakota to 99 percent in South Dakota. This will be the last crop progress report for the year. Final crop quality data will be released in October.
Nearly 70 percent of the expected samples have been collected at the wheat quality lab with this week’s quality factors showing little change from last week. Average protein is at 14.8 percent and average test weight is stable at 60.8 pounds per bushel (80 kg/hl). This year’s crop shows very little damage. Vitreous kernel content dropped this week to 77 percent, but the crop is still showing an average grade of No. 1 Dark Northern Spring. Falling numbers remain high at 395 seconds.
Durum harvest continues at an above average pace. In North Dakota 87 percent of the crop has been harvested and in Montana, 94 percent has been harvested. Yield reports continue to come in at well below average levels. At the wheat quality lab, the crops continues to show an average grade of No. 2 Hard Amber Durum due to the test weight coming in just below 60 pounds per bushel at 59.9 pounds per bushel (78 kg/hl). Protein is still averaging about a point higher than last year at 14.7 percent and thousand kernel weights remain below last year with an average of 36 grams. Vitreous kernel content remains relatively high at 92 percent. Quality data will continue to be updated as the lab is still awaiting quite a few samples for quality testing.
— North Dakota Wheat Commission
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