Combines rolled into North Dakota this past week and early results found an average spring wheat crop of up to 50 bushels per acre but proteins were expected to be low.

“They are going to be poor,” said custom harvester Chad Brink of the protein content. “The wheat was never under any stress.”

Brink had just started cutting spring wheat near Surrey in north central North Dakota.

Other harvesters, some in southwest North Dakota and others in the northwest, had similar opinions although they said it was too early to provide accurate readings. Also, some of the wheat was not ready for harvest.

USDA currently forecasts Montana’s winter wheat production at 99 million bushels with an average yield of 45. (Photo: ygrek/Thinkstock)

“A lot of the wheat is green. There is not a lot of activity yet,” said Short Kulhanek, who was north of Bismarck. “It is looking good. It is not a big crop, but it is a normal crop.

Yields of 30 to 50 bushels were reported in southwest North Dakota.

“The stands are there, but it just didn’t get any water,” said harvester Nancy Eberts, whose crews were near Dickinson. She reported early yields of 30 to 50 bushels per acre after three days of harvesting.

North Dakota is the largest spring wheat producer. USDA currently expects that state’s harvest at 279 million bushels, down from last year’s 319.2 million, due to fewer acres of 6.2 million vs 2015’s 6.65 million and a smaller yield of 45 bushels vs last year’s 48.

At the first of August, USDA rated North Dakota’s spring wheat 68% good to excellent, compared with 72% a year ago.

Mike Strunk’s crew finished winter wheat harvesting this week in northwest Montana and will move to near Minot in northwest North Dakota next week to start spring wheat.

“Yield-wise it was 50-plus bushels on average. That is a pretty good crop,” Strunk said of Montana’s winter wheat.

USDA currently forecasts Montana’s winter wheat production at 99 million bushels with an average yield of 45. Last year, it produced 91.02 million at 41 bpa. Spring wheat there is forecast at 76.16 million bushels at 34 bpa versus 2015’s 75.64 million at 31 bpa.

Dry weather allowed for steady progress in Montana. Strunk said much of the spring wheat in North Dakota may be a week away from being ripe, which would be about normal.

On Monday, USDA said 4% of North Dakota’s spring wheat was harvested compared with none a year ago and the 7% average. In Montana, the winter wheat was 54% cut as of July 31, compared with 62% a year ago and the 27% average. Montana’s spring wheat was 1% cut then versus 4% a year ago and the 2% average.

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