the film forum library tutorial contact

Above-average Yields Seen for NW Wheat by Matthew Weaver Capital Press, August 7, 2020

The world wheat supply is still large

ASOTIN, Wash. -- As this year's harvest continues, Brit Ausman considers himself blessed with high yields. It means he can pay his bills, he says.

An Asotin, Wash., wheat farmer and Washington Grain Commission board member, Ausman began harvest the week of July 27.

"The yield has been exceptional so far and the quality of wheat has been very good," he said. "We've been running between 80 and 100 bushels (per acre), and this is 60-bushel country."

Ausman credits "exceptional" weather, with few days of high temperatures until recently.

Harvest of his 5,000 acres typically lasts three weeks. He usually begins to harvest July 19, but started July 27 this year.

"On an average crop, if we were cutting average wheat, we would not be making any money," he said. "For this area, the above-average crop will allow us to stay in business."

Some areas are cutting an average crop.

"That's going to be very difficult," Ausman said.

Soft white wheat is $5.55 to $5.60 per bushel at Portland market. Club wheat ranges from $5.55 to $7.34 per bushel. Hard red winter ranges from $5.22 to $5.77 per bushel. Dark northern spring wheat ranges from $5.71 to $6.37 per bushel.

Current wheat prices are high enough to cover the cost of production but nowhere near high enough to cover the entire cost of operating, or the fixed costs of the farming operation, said Casey Chumrau, executive director of the Idaho Wheat Commission.

Chumrau and other industry leaders say signs so far indicate average to above average yields.

In Washington, the USDA estimates an average winter wheat yield of 74 bushels per acre, which would be the fourth-highest in history, said Glen Squires, CEO of the Washington Grain Commission. Spring wheat yield is estimated at 60 bushels per ace, tied for second-highest in history.

In Idaho, yields could be close to records because of "excellent" winter and spring wheat crop conditions throughout, Chumrau said.

"But at this point we still have a long way to go," she said. "We just want to make sure the weather continues to cooperate and get the wheat into the bin before anything happens to it."

Yields are higher than expected in her state, Oregon Wheat CEO Amanda Hoey said.

Sporadic hail and frost impacted some farms, but damage was limited to certain areas, she said.

"Progression of the crop changed dramatically after the late spring rains in May and June, following a very dry season all the way into April," she said. "Of the three PNW states, Oregon appeared most impacted by the adverse drought weather overall, so we did not see the same kind of bumps as Washington and Idaho, given moisture as our limiting factor in the dryland areas."

Farmers must meet many specifications, said Ausman, the Washington grower. Their wheat is tested and checked for starch damage, test weight, yield, frost damage, among other potential problems.

If the wheat comes up short, it means a lower price at the grain elevator.

"We have so many factors laying on us now," Ausman said. "It's very challenging -- it's also somewhat of a sigh of a relief to get a few loads to town, get them graded and see where we're finally going to be at."

Related Pages:
Experts: Wheat Prices 'Fairly Firm,' Could Go Higher by Matthew Weaver, Capital Press, 12/3/19