The Wheat Quality Council’s Spring Wheat Tour wrapped up yesterday afternoon and the results indicated the Dakotas could be looking at a bumper crop. South Dakota Wheat Commission Executive Director Reid Christopherson led one of the routes. He says the yield summary from the three days of field surveys posted the highest average in the history of the tour. The all wheat yield was 49.5 bushels per acre. Hard Red Spring Wheat posted an average yield of 49.9 bushels per acre, with durum at 39.2 bushels per acre.

He says it’s been an ideal season for small grain development and it’s certainly reflected in the field. The lack of disease pressure is another contributing factor to the high wheat yields.

Last year the tour average was 48.6 bushels per acre and the five year average is 45.2 bushels.