August 5, 2011

The 2011 HRW wheat harvest is quickly winding down in almost all areas of the Central Great Plains except Wyoming (Wyoming remains well behind the 5- year average) with still only 65% of the crop harvested. Cutting is now in full swing in Montana and just beginning in the Pacific Northwest. Wheat was being swathed last week in Montana (Golden Triangle area), but an estimated 25% of that crop has now been delivered to an elevator or gone into on-farm storage. Early reports on quality are very encouraging in the southern part of Montana with good test weights and good protein in that region. In the northern part of the state early test weights have been reported somewhat lower (57 to 58 lbs./bushel), but with very good protein (again with only 25% of the crop in the bin).

HRW wheat harvest is just getting started in Washington and Oregon with not enough wheat harvested at this point to determine quality trends. Early yield reports have been as good (or better) than expected in most areas.

The overall HRW test weight average dropped slightly (60.9 lbs./bu. to 60.7 lbs./bu.) this week, as did protein (from 12.7% to 12.5%). However, these slight reductions were again offset by some very good yields being reported by producers. As harvest continues northward and westward it is expected test weights will be somewhat lower and proteins will be more variable across locations as a result of spring growing conditions (precipitation and temperatures).

Download this Harvest Summary

Harvest Summary
Tst Exp MST Pro% DKG TKW FN Grade Test Weight FM DMG S&B DEF
390 530 10.6 12.5 0.5 29.4 401 1HRW 60.7 79.9 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.6
FINAL 2010
468 final 11.0 11.8 0.6 29.9 401 1HRW 61.0 80.2 0.2 0.3 1.2 1.8

View this PDF for visual test data from the 2009 harvest.