Canadian Priaries (Rural Roots Canada) – The 2025 harvest of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat lived up to its reputation, delivering another year of high quality and reliable milling performance across the Prairies.
According to the Canadian Grain Commission‘s latest data, 91% of CWRS samples graded in the top two classes, a sign of both favourable growing conditions and consistent management practices across Western Canada.
The average protein content held steady at 13.8%, in line with the ten-year average. The crop was also remarkably clean and safe, with 99% of samples showing deoxynivalenol (DON) levels under 1.0 parts per million, and 91% recording Falling Number values above 350 seconds, strong indicators of low disease and sprout damage.
This year’s CWRS crop showed excellent milling and functional quality. Test weights and kernel size improved from 2024, and milling yields on the Bühler test mill exceeded 76% across all regions.
Flour performance was consistent, with strong gluten, high absorption, and bright colour, hallmarks of top-grade CWRS wheat. Dough stability and extensibility were solid, producing loaves with consistently large volumes in bake tests.
While protein levels were slightly lower in some western regions, overall results show a balanced crop suitable for a wide range of end uses, from traditional pan breads to flatbreads and noodles.
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In the eastern Prairies, covering Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, protein levels averaged 14%, and Falling Number values reached 418 seconds. Milling yields were strong at 77%, and baking tests produced loaves near 980 cubic centimetres per 100 grams of flour, a slight improvement over last year.
Across Alberta, British Columbia, and western Saskatchewan, test weights were steady at 83 kilograms per hectolitre, and protein averaged 13.7%. Falling Number values remained above 400 seconds, and baking trials achieved loaf volumes up to 1,100 cubic centimetres, showing impressive consistency and strength even in a slightly lower-protein crop.
AAC Brandon remained Canada’s most widely grown CWRS variety in 2025, though its share of seeded acres continued to decline. Newer varieties, including AAC Wheatland, AAC Hockley, and AAC Hodge, gained traction across the Prairies as growers sought varieties offering higher yields and comparable quality.
AAC Starbuck and AAC Viewfield maintained steady acreage from the previous year, continuing to perform reliably in key growing regions.
Fusarium head blight pressure remained low in 2025. Over 83% of samples had DON levels below 0.3 ppm, and less than one percent exceeded 1.0 ppm. Sprouting issues were also rare. More than nine out of ten samples achieved Falling Number values above 300 seconds, confirming that weather conditions at harvest were favourable and that grain storage quality remained high.
The CGC report says this year’s crop was “sound, clean, and functional.” Canada is one of the world’s biggest exporters of grain, ranking among the top global suppliers, exporting tens of millions of tonnes of wheat annually.
