Test weights on wheat are down below average in parts of Ontario. Compared to this time last year, yields by test weight alone are down by as much as 10% in areas. There are a couple of reasons behind this. The first involves under-filled kernels from plants surrounding dead zones in the field being mixed in with the sample and driving that weight down, the other involves the crop being left in the field too long. Getting your crop off the field in a timely manner once it’s been swathed isn’t always an option for farmers. Sometimes it needs to dry down, sometimes weather conditions or breakdowns can cause unexpected delays in getting your wheat off the field and in the bin. According to Peter Johnson, Cereal Specialist with OMAFRA, the longer that wheat sits in the field exposed to the elements, the greater the chance is that you will lose not only test weight but yield as well. Rain is the key element involved in that loss. In this episode of the Wheat School, Peter Johnson explains the reason behind those losses.
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