The wheat harvest is underway near Pierre, South Dakota, but yields are coming in below expectations. Custom harvester Roger Benson, who is based in Sheyenne, North Dakota, says the quality of this year’s winter wheat crop is not what he usually sees. “Well, we’re about halfway through the winter wheat. The winter wheat is less than average,” said Benson. “The test weights are really pretty low, 54 to 58. Proteins are in the 14s on winter wheat, which is fairly high. Otherwise, they’ve been rejecting some of this low test weight wheat, so they’ve been putting it in the bins.” Compared to a typical year, Benson plans to continue north to Menoken, North Dakota, before wrapping up the season at home near Sheyenne and Glenfield, North Dakota.
