Soft White Spring Wheat

[charliep]

Note a lot of discussion about soft white spring wheat over the spring but no comments this fall.

What were the production results like on SWSW in non traditional areas? Markets and pricing (CWB versus ethanol versus feeders)? Plans for SWSW in 2008? Ethanol plant programs?

[charliep]

Also interested if anyone has tried to sell off grade/spouted SWSW? Note that soft kernel wheat has been a tough sell to the feed industry in the past (won't roll or grind).

[craig]

Charlie
One year experience(2007) in Central Alberta. Variety Andrew. Yield 95 bushel average on 145 acres. Third party verified. Grade was a 3 due to mildew and higher protein than wanted. Local Viterra Elevator said they would take the crop. Locked in price for #3 at about $5.44. Crop stood well with litle or no lodging but was a slower harvest due to high yield and large amounts of straw ( 4 rd Bales per acre).End conclusion. Soft wheat would dominate in our area if we had an ethanol plant within reasonable trucking distance. Andrew maturity is a little late for our area(Superb wheat maturity) if we are looking for constant quality. If the ethanol option is available then quality becomes less of an issue. It is my understanding that crop insurance will have a program for a lot of the non traditional areas next year.Highlights wheat yield potential if we can get away from KVD. Not planning to grow more till we see what better ethanol options are available.Current freight cost to Lloydminster would run in $.50 to $.60 a bushel.

[Hopperbin]

Andrew first time grower 900 acres.
Had serious midge, sprayed half and not the other half as I thought it was too late head was already out 4 inches out of the flag leaf. Sprayed did 65 bu/acre unsprayed did 35.
Signed a malt contract before planting. Priced CWB fixed average 4.50 net to me. Sorta got the bottom price there with that. Swathed it all at harvest time because it appeared to be falling over on account of the serious saw fly in our area. Some did fall over bad in patches by the time we got to it. Other farmers left theirs stand to harvest and it looked not bad, not sure what is with that.
Mine also laid in the swath for a month and got rained on quite a bit. Seemed to stand up well in the swath and only 1 percent germination. On the midge sprayed stuff Still delivered on the malt contract and got the 10 dollar trucking incentive, delivered to local ellevator.
Sold some to Ethanol plant.
Sold some to Feed Mill , they do not have any problem with it. They are using mostly that. 0 dockage on the high midge damaged stuff was nice to see with ethanol and feed mill.
Have some left, intend to market it in Feb. when I have time, have to submit samples again. And after I clean for seed. Will look to move some CWB and some as feed CWB or Feed ethanol, may be some chance to move more as malt.
Plan to grow it again but still watching markets to see how demand plays out.

[cropduster]

Am I missing something here?????????This stuff is bringing 12-13 bucks in the US.(Better qualify quality)And we/you guys are happy with 4.5 to 5????????Things gotta change!!!!!

[craig]

Crop duster
Didn't say I was happy with the price I got. Soft wheat is much closer to other grades in price this year which is a plus. Comparing to U.S. price is a joke.

[Hopperbin]

At the time that I fixed price my conversation with the CWB person I had on the phone was that Soft Wheat sales are very limitted and offshore sales worked back to the farmer are likely not to happen because the price would be too low. I am not happy with the CWB or the price that I got. I consider my farm a family farm and my wife and I run it every bit as good as any good business man would. I will deal with the CWB because that is the only option for human consumtion or export market. I prefer to have no CWB as an option and the grain companies I deal with know it. Sorry Crop Duster if I sold too cheap and undercut you, I will try to sell higher next time.