Higher Yielding 2024 Hard Red Spring Crop Offers Highly Functional Characteristics

Grown primarily in the North Central region and shipped via the Pacific, Gulf and Great Lakes ports, hard red spring (HRS) wheat is second in production among U.S. wheat classes. USDA has pegged 2024 production at 13.7 million metric tons or 8% more than in 2023. 

Planting started slightly ahead of average due to milder spring weather and adequate moisture except in some western areas. Most of the eastern area had a humid, wet growing season with higher disease pressure and higher yields, while western areas were hot and dry, with minimal disease pressure and reduced yields. 

Harvest In the Gulf and Lakes exportable production area started in early August with a mix of dry conditions in the east compared rain and cooler temperatures in western North Dakota and eastern Montana before drying out. It stayed dry in western areas and hard red spring harvest was complete by mid-September.

PNW Exportable Crop Overview

The 2024 western region hard red spring wheat crop offers high grades, sound kernels, and high average protein content. Functional performance shows strong dough properties with slightly lower absorption. Baking properties are good with average bake absorption, but slightly lower loaf volumes. Due to the late season hot, dry conditions, this crop includes a wider range of yields, protein levels and kernel size. Overall, this is a highly functional crop.

Gulf/Lakes Exportable Crop Overview

The 2024 eastern HRS crop offers a high grade profile and many positive attributes. With some record yields, protein is lower than average. Overall average DON levels and lower falling numbers are not significant. Dough properties and absorption are lower with better performance in higher protein segments. Overall, this crop offers good performance attributes. 

Following are initial details about the hard red spring crop that U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) will share in the 2024 U.S. Wheat Crop Quality Report and Seminars. As always, USW recommends careful consideration of the new crop quality attributes to receive the highest value possible.

2024 HRS PNW-Exportable Highlights	2024 Gulf/Lakes Exportable Highlights
Grade: Average is U.S. No. 1 Dark Northern Spring (DNS), with 86% of samples grading U.S. No. 1.	Grade: Average is U.S. No. 1 Northern Spring (NS), with 97% of samples grading U.S. No. 1.
Test Weight: Similar to last year but slightly lower than the 5-year average.	Test weight: Similar to last year and the 5-year average.
Damaged kernels: Near zero, although shrunken and broken levels are slightly higher than 2023.	Damaged kernels: Higher than last year and the 5-year average due to elevated disease pressure in central and eastern areas.
Vitreous kernel (DHV): Improved over last year and the 5-year average.	Vitreous kernel (DHV): Improved over 2023, although still lower than typical due to harvest time rains and lower crop protein.
Wheat protein: Higher than last year, reflecting expanding dryness during growing season.	Wheat protein: Averages trended lower in eastern areas due to higher yields and seasonal moisture.
DON: Slightly higher this year, with isolated pockets of Fusarium head blight pressure raising the average.	DON: Higher this year, reflecting higher Fusarium head blight pressure.
1000 kernel weight (TKW): Lower than last year due to late-season heat stress but matches the 5-year average.	1000 kernel weight (TKW): Lower than last year but higher than the 5-year average.
Wheat falling number: Notably higher than a year ago, with 95% of the crop higher than 350 seconds.	Wheat Falling Number: Lower than last year but similar to the 5-year average with nearly 80% of the crop over 350 seconds. Variability due to untimely rain in eastern areas.
Laboratory Mill extraction: Higher than last year and the 5-year average.	Laboratory Mill extraction: Higher than last year and the 5-year average.
Flour ash: Similar to last year and slightly below the 5-year average.	Flour ash: Similar to last year and lower than the 5-year average.
Amylograph: Notably higher than last year and the 5-year average, reflecting drier growing conditions and sound kernels.	Amylograph: Notably lower than last year and the 5-year average, reflecting untimely rains during harvest in some parts of the eastern region.
Dough properties: Stronger characteristics compared to last year and the 5-year average.	Dough properties: Weaker characteristics compared to last year and the 5-year average.
Farinograph absorption: Slightly lower than in recent years. Western area production shows strong dough characteristics.	Farinograph absorption: Lower than in recent years, likely because of lower average protein levels. Eastern areas show weaker dough characteristics.
Alveograph: Stronger dough with a higher P/L ratio and higher W-value.	Alveograph: Weaker dough with lower P/L ratio and lower W-value of 373.
Extensograph: Similar strength but greater extensibility, relative to last year and the 5-year average.	Extensograph: Weaker dough properties with greater extensibility, relative to last year and the 5-year average.
Baking evaluations: Slightly lower loaf volumes compared to last year and the 5-year average. Dough handling properties scored slightly higher than in recent years, with good bread scores.	Baking evaluations: Slightly lower loaf volumes compared to last year and the 5-year average. Dough handling properties scored slightly higher than in recent years, with good bread scores.