Weekly Wheat Update
September 15, 2026 Update
Almost 90% of the HRS and durum crops are now in the bins as the 2026 season winds down.
And That's A Wrap...
Hard Red Spring Wheat
Over 90% of the U.S. spring wheat crop has now been harvested, with South Dakota and Minnesota mostly complete, and around 10% remaining to be harvested in both North Dakota and Montana. With daylight hours getting shorter and continued intermittent precipitation, the last portion of harvest has been slow in many areas. USDA will release updated acreage, yield, and production numbers for spring wheat at the end of the month, which will give a more conclusive idea of where yields landed for the year. Quality analysis continues at the NDSU spring wheat quality lab where just under 60% of the samples have been analyzed for kernel and grading characteristics. Of the samples collected so far, protein averages 14.7% (12% moisture basis), falling number remains high at over 400 seconds, test weight average is a bit lower than previous years at 60.3 pounds per bushel (79.3 kg/hl), vitreous kernel content is 73%, and damage is relatively low at 0.1%.
Progress reported as of 9/13/2026
USDA/NASS Crop Progress Reports
Harvest Progress by State | As of 9/13/2026 | Last Week | Last Year | 5yr Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. HRS | 93% | 86% | 93% | 92% |
Minnestoa HRS | 98% | 97% | 100% | 94% |
Montana HRS | 88% | 75% | 92% | 95% |
North Dakota HRS | 92% | 86% | 90% | 88% |
South Dakota HRS | 100% | 100% | 99% | 100% |
Montana Durum | 90% | 80% | 97% | n/a |
North Dakota Durum | 82% | 79% | 85% | 82% |
Wheat Condition by State | Very Poor | Poor | Fair | Good | Excellent | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. HRS | 3% | 11% | 35% | 44% | 7% | 341 |
Minnesota HRS | 0% | 1% | 8% | 85% | 6% | 396 |
Montana HRS | 0% | 10% | 36% | 39% | 15% | 359 |
North Dakota HRS | 5% | 15% | 41% | 34% | 5% | 319 |
South Dakota HRS | 4% | 17% | 37% | 39% | 3% | 320 |
North Dakota Durum | 3% | 9% | 31% | 52% | 5% | 347 |
Montana Durum | 0% | 29% | 41% | 22% | 8% | 309 |
Durum Wheat
Producers continue to work on the last portion of the durum harvest. The shorter days and rainfall have made the last portion of the harvest a challenge in some areas. North Dakota durum harvest is estimated to be 82% complete, and Montana harvest is estimated at 90% complete. Dry conditions during the growing season and rains at or near harvest time have resulted in some quality downgrades on some of the crop, though other portions of the crop show very high quality. With less than one-third of the samples analyzed at the NDSU Durum quality lab, protein is averaging 15.2% (12% moisture basis), nearly a point higher than average. Test weights are a bit below average at 59.9 pounds per bushel (78 kg/hl). Falling number values are averaging above 400 seconds, and vitreous kernel content is currently averaging 79%.