Day 1, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

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This is day 1 of the 2015 Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and Kansas Grain and Feed Association.

The latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service harvest estimate is 314.5 million bushels, which was increased from 272 million bushels due to late season rains during grain fill. While these rains were helpful to many farmers statewide, continual precipitation has delayed harvest and has begun taking a toll on test weights in some areas of the state.

During this first harvest report of 2015, wheat farmers in some portions of the state are scurrying to take advantage of dry, hot weather in order to get a solid foothold for the 2015 wheat harvest.

Janice Gates reports that her family, and many others, began harvest near Anthony on Friday, June 19, a late start to the season due to wet conditions. While much lower than the 10-year county average, the Gates’ 20 bushels per acre average was better than expected, due to those May rains.

While the yields have exceeded expectations, test weights have been at 57 pounds per bushel, lower than the optimal 60 pounds per bushel. Gates also reported 10-11% moisture content.

Haviland farmer Denton Clark said that this year’s crop was a “nice change of pace” from last year’s harvest. He is estimating a 50 bushel per acre average after starting his cutting on Thursday, June 18. While he says that the stand is thin, the heads are large and filled to the “tip top.” While yields have been above average for Clark, it didn’t always look that way. According to Clark, after stripe rust had been spotted in the area, fungicide that was applied has “definitely paid off.” He has also reported some samples bringing in slightly below the optimal 60 pounds per bushel.

David Janzen, a Butler County farmer, is reporting a high average yield of around 60 bushels per acre in his family’s fields. While the Janzen family just started harvest on Saturday, test weights so far have been running slightly above the average of 60 pounds per bushel and weed pressure has been at a minimum.

The 2015 Harvest Report is brought to you by Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and Kansas Grain and Feed Association.