Wheat Quality Council’s Spring Wheat Crop Tour

The annual Wheat Quality Council’s Spring Wheat Crop Tour wrapped up at the Northern Crops Institute on July 25. The annual wheat tour saw a beautiful, essentially disease-free crop on its 472 stops in North Dakota, northern South Dakota and northwest Minnesota. A record 75 people, primarily government statisticians and representatives of millers and other companies involved in the wheat industry, participated in the tour. Tour participants estimated the region’s overall 2013 wheat yield at 44.9 bushels per acre, the same as what the 2012 tour estimated for last year’s crop. Last year’s crop, however, was planted unusually early and was nearly ready to harvest when the 2012 inspection tour was conducted. In contrast, this year’s cool, wet spring prevented some fields from being planted and caused many other fields to be planted later than usual. As a result, the wheat crop isn’t as advanced as it normally is. Ben Handcock heads up the Wheat Quality Council.