US HRW wheat harvest progressing quickly, SRW almost complete

With much of the US experiencing hot temperatures and high humidity, the hard red winter (HRW) wheat harvest is progressing quickly as it moves north and northwest and the soft red winter (SRW) harvest is nearly complete, according to the US Wheat Associates weekly report Friday.

Hot, dry weather is projected to accelerate the development and harvest of the soft wheat (SW), hard red spring (HRS) wheat and northern durum crops.

The HRW harvest is 50% complete with the Kansas harvest nearly complete while reaping is at least 50% complete in Colorado, Nebraska and Oregon.

HRW producers report variable yields based on environmental factors, with early protein reports higher than average, while proteins are trending lower while yields are increasing as the harvest moves to later maturing areas that have benefited from rain and cooler temperatures.

The SRW harvest is complete except for a few areas producing the grain for domestic use in northern states.

Hot, dry weather is allowing the SW winter harvest to pick up speed, with almost 30% of the winter crop harvested and nearly 10% of the spring crop reaped.

The SW harvest started this week in low elevations in Idaho.

Nationwide, with 94% of the HRS planting headed, and dry conditions forecast in the near term, the harvest should progress quickly.

The harvest is underway with 9% of the North Dakota crop reaped and 1% of Minnesota’s, according to USDA data.  

”State representatives report hot, dry weather took top yield potential and reduced tillering, but recent cooler weather stabilized the crop,” the report said.

The northern durum crop in North Dakota is progressing at above-average levels, with 89% headed, up from 70% a week earlier, while the Montana crop is 86% headed, up from 61% a week earlier.

“State representatives note that recent hot temperatures reduced top yield potential and producers are expecting an average to below average crop,” the report said.