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Michigan farmers expect limited wheat yields

Dry weather in Michigan is reducing the grain fill period for wheat but some areas are expecting an average year.

Dennis Pennington with Michigan State University Extension tells Brownfield the crop is not a total loss.

“There are areas that are in very poor condition and there are areas that are in pretty good condition and still have adequate moisture and whatnot,” he shares.  “We’re going to have an average or I think we could even have above average crop in some of those areas.”

The lack of rain, however, he says will mean smaller wheat seeds.

“And smaller seeds means lower test weight, that means they’ll have higher protein, lower flour content, which the Millers want as higher flour content is what they can get, so quality won’t quite be there on the areas that are the most impacted at least,” he explains.

The latest Michigan Wheat Watchers report from MSU showed the southwest region of the state experienced isolated rains, with some areas at the beginning of June receiving up to 1.5 inches, but most other areas remain dry.

Brownfield interviewed Pennington during the recent Michigan Wheat Program Summer Field Day.