Higher Yielding 2024 Hard Red Spring Crop Offers Highly Functional Characteristics

Grown primarily in the North Central region and shipped via the Pacific, Gulf and Great Lakes ports, hard red spring (HRS) wheat is second in production among U.S. wheat classes. USDA has pegged 2024 production at 13.7 million metric tons or 8% more than in 2023. 

Planting started slightly ahead of average due to milder spring weather and adequate moisture except in some western areas. Most of the eastern area had a humid, wet growing season with higher disease pressure and higher yields, while western areas were hot and dry, with minimal disease pressure and reduced yields. 

Harvest In the Gulf and Lakes exportable production area started in early August with a mix of dry conditions in the east compared rain and cooler temperatures in western North Dakota and eastern Montana before drying out. It stayed dry in western areas and hard red spring harvest was complete by mid-September.

PNW Exportable Crop Overview

The 2024 western region hard red spring wheat crop offers high grades, sound kernels, and high average protein content. Functional performance shows strong dough properties with slightly lower absorption. Baking properties are good with average bake absorption, but slightly lower loaf volumes. Due to the late season hot, dry conditions, this crop includes a wider range of yields, protein levels and kernel size. Overall, this is a highly functional crop.

Gulf/Lakes Exportable Crop Overview

The 2024 eastern HRS crop offers a high grade profile and many positive attributes. With some record yields, protein is lower than average. Overall average DON levels and lower falling numbers are not significant. Dough properties and absorption are lower with better performance in higher protein segments. Overall, this crop offers good performance attributes. 

Following are initial details about the hard red spring crop that U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) will share in the 2024 U.S. Wheat Crop Quality Report and Seminars. As always, USW recommends careful consideration of the new crop quality attributes to receive the highest value possible.