Key facts
- Dozens of crop scouts are participating in the Wheat Quality Council's annual Hard Spring Wheat and Durum Tour.
- The tour covers North Dakota and western Minnesota, assessing crop condition, quality, and yield potential.
- Participants will note the presence and severity of insects and disease in the wheat fields.
- The North Dakota Wheat Commission reported stable crop conditions and average development pace for hard red spring wheat.
- A USDA report indicated 59% of North Dakota's spring wheat crop was in good condition.
Dozens of crop scouts are traversing North Dakota and western Minnesota this week for the Wheat Quality Council's annual Hard Spring Wheat and Durum Tour. Armed with yardsticks and yield formulas, approximately 40 participants from various organizations, including grain companies, millers, bakers, and government entities, are assessing hundreds of wheat fields. The tour aims to estimate overall yield potential while identifying any insect or disease pressures. Routes are predetermined and follow established paths across different regions of North Dakota, with a few extending into western Minnesota. The North Dakota Wheat Commission's latest report indicated that the hard red spring wheat crop's condition remained stable with average development, though a heat wave was anticipated. A recent USDA report showed that 59% of the state's spring wheat crop was rated in good condition, an increase from the prior week.