2015 U.S. SRW Crop Quality Impacted By The Wet Growing Season

 

The USW 2015/16 SRW crop quality survey is complete and the full report will be available soon at http://www.uswheat.org/cropQuality. Great Plains Analytical Laboratory in Kansas City, MO, collected and analyzed 519 samples from 18 reporting areas in the nine states that typically account for 60 to 70 percent of total SRW production. USW and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service fund the annual survey.

 

USW will also share this data with hundreds of overseas customers at several upcoming events, including USW's annual crop quality seminars. Buyers are encouraged to construct specifications carefully to be sure that they receive qualities that meet their needs either for traditional soft wheat products or for blending with higher protein wheat. 

 

The 2015 SRW production, estimated at 10.6 (million metric tons) MMT, is down nearly 2 MMT from the 2014 crop and is the smallest SRW crop since 2010. Much of the SRW growing area received excessive moisture throughout the spring, encouraging the development of diseases. In many areas rain continued to cause lengthy harvest delays and reduced quality. Drier weather in mid-June allowed harvest to progress in a more timely fashion in the East Coast states. 

 

The overall average SRW grade for 2014/15 is U.S. No. 3. Average protein is higher than last year and similar to the five-year average. Average dockage is also above last year and higher than the five-year average. Falling number values in the Gulf Port states are well below normal, where samples show the adverse effects of excessive moisture. In the East Coast states, falling number values reflect somewhat better harvest conditions. 

 

Test weight averages are down for both Gulf Port and East Coast states with an overall average test weight of 56.9 lb/bu (75.0 kg/hl). This average is down 1.1 lb/bu (1.3 kg/hl) from last year and 1.8 lb/bu (2.2 kg/hl) below the five-year average. The average total defects value of 4.3 percent is 2.5 percentage points higher than last year and more than double the five-year average. The higher damage values are found mainly in the Gulf Port states; the East Coast damage and total defects are higher than in 2014 but below the five-year averages. 

 

Average wheat protein content of 10.0 percent (12 percent moisture) is slightly above last year and similar to the five-year average for both Gulf Port and East Coast states. Sedimentation and wet gluten values are slightly above last year and the five-year averages. The overall DON average of 2.2 ppm is similar to 2014 but above the five-year average. Comparing the two regions, the DON average for the six Gulf Port states is 2.6 ppm, similar to 2014 and about 1 ppm above the five-year average, while the average of 0.7 ppm for the three East Coast states is slightly below the five-year average.

 

Flour and Baking Data. Buhler laboratory mill flour extraction averages are above the five-year averages overall for both East Coast and Gulf Port states, although flour ash values are also higher. The dough properties are nearly all similar to five-year averages. Farinograph peak, stability and absorption values are somewhat higher than 2014 and similar to five-year averages. Alveograph P and L values are also higher than last year with the overall W value similar to last year and below the five-year average. The overall cookie spread ratio is below last year but similar to the five-year average, while the overall average loaf volume is below last year and the five-year average. 

 

USW crop quality data and the skilled service from your local or regional USW office will be particularly valuable this marketing year. Because our organization only represents the wheat farmers who help fund our work, you can be confident that USW provides service and technical support with your best interests in mind.