U.S. Wheat Associates : Harvest Report

Hard Red Winter

The 2014 HRW wheat harvest is now in full swing in Colorado which is 79% complete. Nebraska harvest is now 65% complete and Wyoming 18% complete. As harvest has progressed northward reported yields have almost doubled and now range from 50 bu/ac to 75 bu/ac (3.4-5.0 tons/ha), much higher than areas in the southern and central Great Plains. This is an indication of the very favorable climatic conditions that existed during the growing season in this region. Test weight and thousand kernel weight reported within this region are also well above the average values of most of the other production areas.

South Dakota harvest is now 8% complete, which is still too early to establish crop quality trends. High temperatures in Montana continue to hasten crop development to the final stage of maturity. Harvest in Washington (21% complete), Oregon (30% complete) and Idaho (11% complete) is progressing rapidly due to higher than normal temperatures throughout the Pacific North Western region.

As of July 25, 55 new samples have been collected over the past week but have not yet been analyzed. The data will be included in next week's report.

Soft Red Winter

This week’s cumulative total of 516 samples leaves just a few remaining samples from northern Indiana to complete. Wheat grade and non-grade factors continue to hold steady for the most part. The overall thousand kernel weight still continues to be slightly lower than the 2013 final average of 33.5 grams while the overall average test weight is equal to last year. Falling number values are slightly higher than last year, and the grade is a No. 3, below last year's No. 2.

Laboratory milling results from this week from Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Kentucky are indicating flour yields equal to 2013. Flour ash from the lab mill has been equal to or lower than last year’s results. However, farinograph absorption is trending from 1% to 3% lower this year. Bread volume and internal score data is trending higher in western Illinois and Virginia, but eastern Illinois had poor grain and texture.