From Texas to Montana, Reuters says farmers cut some losses early this year across the U.S. Wheat Belt. Many farmers chose to bale the wheat into hay, plow some fields under, or turn them over to grazing animals.
Farmers who have crop insurance can still earn revenue from damaged fields. The Great Plains are home to much of the U.S.-grown hard red winter wheat crop, which is favored by bakers for bread. However, with prices around $5 a bushel, America’s wheat farmers are at a point where they may be forced to lose money, feed the wheat to their cattle, or kill off their crops. USDA Crop Progress Reports show that the winter wheat harvest is behind schedule.
A report from Total Farm Marketing says excessive rain continues to be the culprit. “If the rain continues, wheat quality issues may also show up,” said Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing.
