Wheat Growers Seek USDA Help on Low-Protein Discounts

Pacific Northwest wheat growers are facing significant financial losses due to low protein levels in their crops. According to Oregon Wheat CEO Amanda Hoey, farmers can see a reduction of 30 cents per bushel to 50 cents per bushel for soft white wheat below 9% protein levels.

The USDA's Risk Management Agency regional office director Ben Thiel is still getting informed on the issue, but some industry leaders are advocating for a policy change. 'In low-protein years, farmers can follow every best practice and still face devastating financial hits when elevator discounts reduce grain value,' said Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

The issue is not new; Pacific Northwest wheat industry members have discussed including low protein within quality loss considerations since a severe drought in 2021 led to low-protein discounts. This year's crop is larger than average, which means storage capacity is limited and growers need to find markets that can accommodate the lower-quality grain.