Wheat yields surprise farmers

Despite a growing season with plenty of winterkill, a wet spring and a mini-drought in early summer, farmers were surprised with their winter wheat yields.

OMAFRA cereals specialist Joanna Follings said on average across Ontario, winter wheat planted last September yielded 100 to 130 bu/ac. Early-planted October winter wheat yielded 80-100 bu/ac and late-October plantings yielded 30-70 bu/ac.

Fusarium was low and quality and protein were good, she said, adding that about 250,000 acres of the 1 million acres planted last fall were taken out of production because of winterkill.