The Rural Voice, 1999-03, Page 68SPRING WHEAT UPDATE
leads spring cereals in profit potential
End-use markets recognize the value of Quantum
After two years of experience with Quantum, millers,
bakers and the feed industry are learning how to max-
imize performance from this bin -busting variety.
Elevator operators and the wheat board are also gain-
ing expertise in effectively marketing this new crop to
maximize producer returns.
Quantum is the most widely grown hard red spring
wheat in this diverse and rapidly expanding industry.
Although clearly superior agronomically, Quantum
presented some marketing challenges to the trade.
Now, producers, millers, bakers and the feed industry
are recognizing the desirable qualities of Quantum.
The Ontario Cereal Crop Committee has recently
supported an upgrade of Quantum's 3 -year interim
registration to a full registration for eastern Canada.
This interim registration was initially granted to allow
the industry time to establish true quality and
marketability of the product.
Today, millers are using Quantum in a wide variety of
applications. "Quantum is not a self -baker, but almost,"
says Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada researcher
Dr. Judith Fregeau-Reid. "It's a blend strong." That
means it can be used in higher quantities in a blend
than some other
hard red wheats
with lower gluten
strength.
"Our goal is to ensure that Quantum
wheat of milling quality is identified.
segregated and moved into the most
lucrative milling markets."
' - John McLaughlin
1.
Canada Bread's
Paul Nelson
explains they have
been using Quantum successfully at fairly high blend
levels in a wide product
range. "The most impor-
tant thing to bakers is a
consistent and definable
quality of product," says
Nelson.
Producers can expect an extra
0 to 15 bushels per acre with
uantum. Multiply that by dollars
r bushel, and you've got a
shot at some good money per
acre" - Jim Whitelaw
The industry has received
that message loud and
clear and is committed to doing a better job of segre-
gation. "The elevators, C & M Seeds and the wheat
board are much more confident now about the way
Quantum behaves," says John McLaughlin, manager of
Palmerston Elevators. "Our goal is to ensure that
Quantum wheat of milling quality is identified, segre-
gated and moved into the most lucrative milling mar-
kets. The rest will offset the highest -priced wheat for
feed coming in from western Canada. There are no
losers in this picture."
Ontario feed mills require 100,000 tonnes of hard red
wheat each year. "Quantum is a high protein spring
wheat for feed that,commands $40 a tonne more than
off -grade traditional soft wheat for feed," says Jim
Quantum vs. Barley Economic Comparison Based on Long Term Data
Forward Current Projected
Yield' Yield Current Contract Revenue' Revenue
tonnes/ha Index' Pricing Price S/ha S/ha
Barley 4.46 100 125.00" 120.00" 557.50 535.20
Quantum 4.58 103 150.00' 154.00" 687.00 705.32
•
1994-1997 official OCCC performance trials for barley and Quantum grown at same locations
Based on approximate price delivered to Ontario feed mill
OWPMB projected pool returns for 1998 crop, including protein premiums, excluding
on-farm storage
Current and projected revenues based on long term OCCC performance trials
Current OWPMB forward contract price, including protein premiums
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