Hard Wheat Worries: Will North America’s Crop Make the Grade?
Cool, wet weather has delayed the harvest of this year’s North American spring wheat crops, raising fears of a possible shortage of high-quality hard red and durum wheats grown on the northern US and Canadian prairies. Global wheat stocks are currently at a record 287.8 million tonnes. Spring wheat is sown in the spring and harvested in the fall.
Crop Progress
In North Dakota, 99% of hard red spring wheat has headed, but only 89% of the crop has been harvested; in the United States, the durum crop is even further behind, with only 79% of the crop harvested; and spring wheat has lagged in Canada as well.
Quality Measures
Late-season rains aren’t usually a problem for yield, but they can dilute protein concentrations, and low-protein hard red wheat can’t be shifted to pastry use; instead, it’s used for animal feed, resulting in higher prices. Another quality measure of wheat, called falling numbers (FN), has been a concern this season.
Wheat Markets
Export prices for dark northern spring (DNS) wheat and Canada Western Red Spring wheat have risen dramatically, indicating a scarcity of high-protein wheat. The United States exports more than half of its hard red spring wheat and durum crops each year.
Conclusion
Over the next few weeks, final reports on the quality of the spring and durum wheat harvests will be released, but it’s still too early to determine the extent of the damage caused by last year’s weather-related crop failures in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
What is the growing season for spring wheat?
Winter wheats are planted in the autumn and harvested in late spring or early summer, while spring wheats are planted in the early spring and harvested in late summer or early autumn.
What month is spring wheat harvested?
Spring wheat is planted as soon as possible in the spring and harvested in the late summer; dormant seeding occurs in late November or early December, when the ground is cold enough to prevent germination until spring.
What time of year is wheat planted?
Sow and Plant For an overwintered crop, sow in late summer or early autumn, and plant spring wheat while the soil is still cool.
What is the difference between hard spring wheat and hard winter wheat?
The difference between spring wheat and winter wheat is when the seeds are planted; spring wheat is planted in the spring and harvested in the fall, whereas harder winter wheat has a higher protein content and is used to make pasta and bread.
Is growing wheat illegal?
Commercial wheat operations, which rely heavily on commercial pesticides and fertilizers for production, are often very traumatic to otherwise fertile land, making it illegal to grow wheat at home.
What is the difference between spring wheat and winter wheat?
Spring wheat is planted in the spring and harvested in the summer and fall, whereas winter wheat is planted in the fall or winter and harvested in the spring and summer.
What happens to wheat if it is not harvested?
Wheat harvesting is postponed, putting the crop at risk of disease, lodging, sprouting, and harvest loss.
Can wheat be planted in the spring?
Spring wheat can be planted while the soil is still cool by broadcasting seed 3 inches (7 cm) apart and one-half inch (1 cm) deep into cultivated soil. No thinning is required. When growing wheat with other cover crops, increase spacing to 8 inches (20 cm).
What happens to wheat after it is harvested?
The harvested grain is sold to a local grain elevator at market price, after which it is sold to flour millers for domestic consumption or loaded onto ships bound for overseas markets. Flour mills grind the grain into various types of flour, such as whole wheat, all-purpose, and bread flour.
How many days does it take for wheat to grow?
It’s planted in the fall, usually between October and December, and grows over the winter to be harvested in the spring or early summer; it takes about seven to eight months to mature, and it makes a lovely golden contrast in spring gardens.
Will winter wheat grow in spring?
Winter wheat can be planted in the spring as a weed-suppressing companion crop or early forage, but you lose the benefit of fall nutrient scavenging. Reasons for spring planting include winter kill or spotty overwintering, or simply because you didn’t have time to fall-seed it.
How can you tell when wheat is ready to harvest?
Some wheat plants are harvested in the summer, while others are harvested in the fall. When the wheat plant reaches its final stage of growth, meaning it is dry enough and no green is visible, it is ready to be harvested with a combine, which combines reaping, threshing, and winnowing.
Which type of wheat is best?
The husk and bran are removed in many types of wheat flours, stripping them of many nutrients, dietary fibres, minerals, and vitamins. Whole wheat is better than simple wheat flour because it is a grain complete with bran, husk, and endosperm.
Which is the best variety of wheat?
Wheat Varieties of the Highest Quality
- Hi 8759 (Puja Tejas) is a rust-resistant wheat variety.
- HD 4728 (Pusa Malawi) is a high-yielding wheat variety with a genetic potential of 6.8t/ha.
- HW 5207 (COW3)
- HS 562.
- HD 3171.
- HD 1605 (Pusa Ujala) is a high-yielding wheat variety with a genetic potential of 6.8t/ha
Is red wheat better than white?
Red wheat has a slightly higher protein content, making it better for rustic, artisan, and generally harder bread loaves, whereas hard white wheat has a lower protein content, making it better for softer loaves like pan loaves and dinner rolls.