MANDAN, N.D. — Limited precipitation and slightly warmer temperatures allowed better harvest progress last week. The U.S. spring wheat harvest is now about three-fourths complete, ahead of the five-year average of 66 percent. Harvest is going faster than average in the drought-stricken western growing regions due to higher levels of abandoned acreage and well below average yields. In eastern growing regions harvest has been a bit slower due to wet conditions and fairly strong yields. In South Dakota harvest is almost complete. Montana harvest is about 85 percent complete, followed by North Dakota at 71 percent and Minnesota at 65 percent.
At the NDSU wheat quality lab, 31 percent of the expected spring wheat harvest samples have been collected and analyzed. Average protein is now 15.1 percent, a bit lower than the previous week, but a point higher than the 2016 average. In western growing regions protein levels have ranged anywhere from 13 to over 17 percent. In eastern regions, protein levels are mostly in the mid 12 percent range up to 15 percent. There are some reports of protein levels below 12 percent, but they are fairly limited. So far, average vitreous kernel content is averaging 86 percent for the region, with some lower levels being seen in eastern growing regions. Average test weight is at 60.7 lbs. /bu. (79.8 kg/hl), down from last year and thousand kernel weight is averaging 29.8 grams. The falling number is averaging 405 seconds and total defects are at one percent, with the bulk being shrunken and broken kernels.
The durum harvest in North Dakota is nearing 40 percent completion. Condition of the crop that has yet to be harvested remains relatively low with nearly half rated in poor to very poor condition, 42 percent in fair condition and only 10 percent in good condition. In Montana, harvest is now 80 percent complete, well ahead of average. Quality data so far is limited with less than a third of the harvest samples collected and analyzed. Early data shows an average protein content of 14.8 percent, about a point higher than last year. Vitreous kernel content appears to be high so far, with most samples showing about 90 percent. The bulk of the samples so far are from Montana and southwest North Dakota. Average test weight is at 59.8 lbs. /bu. (77.9 kg/hl), slightly lower than last year, and thousand kernel weight is lower than last year at 35.4 grams. This quality data will continue to be updated as samples are analyzed.
— North Dakota Wheat Commission
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