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From weather to markets, wheat crop has faced challenges

A northwest Tennessee farmer says his wheat crop has faced an uphill battle this year.

David Nichols says from weather to marketing, it hasn’t been easy.  “We had a really cold freezing event back in March after the wheat began to a joint,” he says. “We were borderline on some damage on some fields and possibly there’s some freeze damage there.  And then we had a frost back a couple of weeks ago that kind of scared us as well, right about the time the wheat crop was about to head.”

He tells Brownfield he still has a lot of bushels left to sell.  “We’re still continuing to see volatility in the markets,” he says. “The wheat market has really sold off hard and that’s going to be a challenge to us. But hopefully, the crop will produce good enough yield we can offset some of those lower prices.”

Along with wheat, Nichols raises corn and soybeans.  He says they will plant 100% of their wheat acres with double-crop beans following wheat harvest.

According to the latest Crop Progress & Conditions report from the USDA 85% of Tennessee’s wheat crop has headed with 69% rated good to excellent. 

AUDIO: David Nichols, Tennessee farmer