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Record Michigan wheat yields

The Chairman of the Michigan Wheat Program says Michigan might not have the most wheat acreage, but the state continues to produce record yields.

Dave Milligan farms near Cass City in Michigan’s Thumb, growing corn, soybeans, dry beans and wheat. He tells Brownfield the number one factor for this year’s crop came down to the weather.

“Weather isn’t everything, obviously you have to have the right kind of seed and agronomic practices.” He says, “There’s a lot more farmers going to high nitrogen with split applications, a lot more fungicides and fungicides have really paid this year.”

Michigan farmers averaged record yields of 81 bushels per acre in winter wheat, an 11 percent increase over 2014 and the second highest yielding state average for 2015. Milligan also attributes high yields to variety selections and management practices.

“I think farmers are starting to treat wheat more like a high value crop rather than just something you used to just throw in the ground.”

He says Michigan also has the advantage of cooler temperatures during grain fill making 100 bushel wheat more obtainable.

Milligan says the last few weeks of September provided near perfect conditions for his other crops left to harvest.

AUDIO: Interview with Dave Milligan (5:35 mp3):