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Farmers struggle to plant spring wheat

It’s been a challenge seeding spring wheat.

U.S. Wheat Associates president Vince Peterson says he’s not sure how many acres get planted in 2019.

“I suppose to some extent people are starting to look at planting alternatives and what other later crops might go in in some areas that allow those.”

He tells Brownfield the weather continues to be problematic in key wheat growing regions of the U.S.

“This is just going to be a tough year, I think, with the spring wheat issues we’ve had. In addition, we have winter wheat areas with a lot of rain that might be good for bushels, but you never know how that’s going to be for protein, disease pressure, and other things as well. You just can’t seem to outrun all the challenges these days.”

The USDA forecast a three percent reduction in spring wheat acreage in its Prospective Plantings report that did not account for delays seen throughout April.