Note: This will be the final Farm Futures wheat harvest report for the season.

Spring wheat in North Dakota continued to produce good yields and test weights, but low protein, custom harvesters said this week.

In northwest North Dakota, some spring wheat fields were about two weeks from being ready for harvest, while elsewhere harvesters reported yields of 60 bushels per acre or more.

Vomitoxin was reported in durum wheat near Minot, which was prompting price discounting at elevators. Some of the durum had 3.5 parts per million vomitoxin, which exceeded the 2 ppm preferred by millers, said harvester Mike Strunk.

Once the spring wheat and durum are harvested, some of the custom harvesters will move south and prepare for the fall corn and soybean harvests. (Photo: Orientaly/Thinkstock)

“There is definitely an issue with it,” said Strunk, who was operating east of Minot. “We do not have a lot of commitments to cut durum but the first fields we cut had some vomitoxin.”

High humidity this summer when the plants were flowering in the northern areas was blamed for the disease, which is caused by a fungus. The state’s weekly crop report said vomitoxin was in the “west part of the state.”

In spring wheat, protein levels of 13% to 13.5% continue to be common versus the preferred 14% or more.

“The protein levels in the spring wheat continue to be a big factor,” said harvester Shorty Kulhanek, who is preparing to cut near Tioga in northwest North Dakota.

Once the spring wheat and durum are harvested, some of the custom harvesters will move south and prepare for the fall corn and soybean harvests.

Harvester Irvin Odegard was in northeast Montana near Scobey where durum wheat yielded about 50 bpa with 62-pound test weights. In about a week Odegard’s crews will move to South Dakota and prepare to harvest the fall crops

North Dakota is the largest spring wheat producer. USDA currently expects that state’s harvest at 291.4 million bushels, down from last year’s 319.2 million, due to fewer acres of 6.2 million vs 2015’s 6.65 million. USDA put the state’s average yield at 47 bushels versus last year’s 48.

On Monday, USDA said 64% of North Dakota’s spring wheat was harvested compared with 63% a year ago and the 39% average. The total U.S. spring wheat harvest was 65% done versus 69% last year and the 46% average.

Aug. 19, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Good yields, low protein, in spring wheat

Aug. 12, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Average spring wheat found in North Dakota

Aug. 5, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Much of the crop not ready for harvest

July 22, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Combines start spring wheat in South Dakota

July 18, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Big yields in South Dakota

July 8, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Yields remain high, test weights slip

July 1, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Rain slows progress

June 24, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Big, healthy crop in Kansas

June 17, 2016 - Wheat Harvest 2016 - Good yields, test weights, in Kansas, Oklahoma