Nicole Fiorellino, Extension Agronomist | nfiorell@umd.edu
University of Maryland, College Park
As we head into wheat season, I have had a number of Maryland farmers (and farmers beyond Maryland) ask me about growing high protein soft red winter wheat (SRWW) in our region. Coincidentally, I recently published an article on the topic based on a field study I performed in Maryland right around COVID. Back in 2018, representatives from grain mills in Pennsylvania asked me if it was possible to increase the protein content of SRWW grain, as SRWW is produced specifically to be low in protein. Increased wheat yields in the Mid-Atlantic have driven down the protein content of the grain produced, as there is a known inverse relationship between wheat yield and grain protein; that is, as wheat yield increases, grain protein decreases. Local wheat buyers are blending hard wheat from the Midwest with lower-protein SRWW produced locally, but this process is expensive and there is a need for higher protein SRWW grown in the Mid-Atlantic.
I chose to answer three questions with my research, 1) is it possible to increase the protein content of SRWW; 2) if it is possible, would the increase be a result of selecting high protein varieties or modifying how nitrogen (N) fertilizer is applied or a combination of both; and 3) is it is profitable? We determined that in Maryland it is possible to increase protein content of SRWW and we demonstrated this through both variety selection and modifying fertilization strategy. I selected varieties from Virginia Tech Small Grains Variety Trial report that had the highest protein content reported, and these varieties resulted in grain with protein above 11%, with one variety yielding as well as a commercially available high yielding wheat variety (Figure 1), but typically a yield decrease was observed with increased grain protein. I shifted the timing of N fertilizer application in the spring to a greater amount of fertilizer applied at jointing versus greenup keeping the spring total N application rate the same. I included an additional treatment that kept the total N application rate the same, yet included a third application post-flowering, and I included a final treatment with three spring N applications and an increased spring total N application rate. I demonstrated there was no need to increase the total amount of N applied in the spring to increase grain protein, but dividing the same amount of spring N into three applications versus two will increase grain protein (Figure 2). Therefore, the answer to question 1 is, yes it is possible and the answer to question 2 grain protein increase can result from either variety selection or modifying fertilization strategy but not necessarily a combination of both.
Finally, to answer the question of profitability. The answer to this question is the classic “it depends,” and every grower should have a solid idea of their cost of production to estimate their profitability. Here are some points to consider if you are considering growing high protein wheat.
First, it is important to consider if typical wheat production is profitable in your location, as some locations in my study yielded so low that it would not be profitable to produce wheat period. Second, it is important to assume increased input costs for high protein wheat production, namely an additional application trip across the field for N application, increased seed costs for high protein variety, and longer distance hauling. Third, it is important to assume decreased yield with higher protein when estimating profitability. Using these assumptions, a grower should pencil out their breakeven price to produce high protein wheat and compare that to typical wheat prices in the recent past. Some of my calculations from sites in my study indicated a $2.25 premium would be required to breakeven producing high protein wheat…that is a huge premium that is unlikely to be offered. Finally, when producing a “value-added” product like high protein wheat, it is recommended to secure a contract or sale price before investing time or money into production, as my back of the envelope calculations do not always promise profit.
High protein SRWW is possible in the Mid-Atlantic but the profitability depends on the individual grower. Approach this new enterprise with caution and ensure the profitability pencils out before planting seed. The publication is available at https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70154 , as always, reach out with any questions or further discussion.
