Kansas Ag Connection - Hot, Dry Conditions Push Spring Wheat Crop

Kansas Ag News Headlines

Hot, Dry Conditions Push Spring Wheat Crop
Kansas Ag Connection - 08/18/2017

Harvest of the U.S. spring wheat crop continues at an above average pace, with some of the crop being pushed to maturity due to the hot, dry conditions. A good portion of the region received rainfall over the last week with amounts ranging from a trace to an inch. Isolated areas received up to three inches over the weekend, delaying harvest. While the rain was appreciated, it did little to relieve severe drought conditions. Forty percent of the U.S. crop has been harvested, up 16 percentage points from last week. The South Dakota crop is nearing 80 percent harvested, while harvest completion ranges from 26 to 39 percent in the other states.

Harvest reports continue to indicate more of the same. In the western regions, yields are well below average with high protein levels and some producers indicating lower test weights. In eastern growing regions, yields are at or near average with higher than average protein levels (13.5 to 16 percent) and strong test weights.

Durum conditions continue to deteriorate. In North Dakota, 44 percent of the durum is rated in poor to very poor condition, 49 percent in fair condition, and seven percent in good condition. Over half of the crop is reported to be mature. Early harvest reports indicate yields that are below average and well below last year's levels. In Montana, conditions are worse with over two-thirds of the crop rated in poor to very poor condition. About half of the crop has been harvested in Montana, well ahead of average. The harvest is being pushed along by hot, dry conditions and low yields. The current USDA yield estimate for durum is 24 bushels/acre for North Dakota and 17 bushels/acre for Montana, compared to nearly 41 bushels last year.

Other Kansas Headlines