Day 2, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

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This is day 2 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 hot, dry weather and strong winds across Kansas have allowed producers in much of the state to get started with wheat harvest.

Manager of Pride Ag Resources in Dodge City Jerald Kemmerer reported that harvest just started in his territory on Sunday. Two-thirds of Pride Ag Resources' locations were open for receiving grain over the weekend; the last third officially opened on Monday.

Test weights have ranged from 55-61 pounds per bushel. Yields have been a bit varied, but are higher than anticipations from earlier in the growing season. Although harvest has just started in the area, Kemmerer was quick to point out that farmers are hustling to get fields cut because of encroaching weed pressure due to late season rains and thin wheat stands across southwest Kansas. 

Judy Kinsler, a Kingman County farmer, is reporting fields ranging from 30-60 bushels an acre.

"So far I have been so pleased with yields because I didn't think it would turn out in April," said Kinsler. "They should call it hardy red winter wheat instead of just hard!"

So far the Kinsler operation is about 40 percent complete with #wheatharvest15. She explained that this year's yields may even be above average for their farm. Test weights are holding steady at 61-62 pounds per bushel. This test weight is actually down from their first cuttings which took place around June 11, when their initial test weights were 64-65 pounds per bushel. Judy also said that although most fields have dried out at this point, there are still some farmers who are waiting on less muddy fields in southern Kingman County.

Reno County farmer Jenny Burgess said that they are seeing "30 bushels an acre heads on what should be 60 bushels an acre straw." Burgess attributes the lower yields to stripe rust.

"It is a much better harvest than the last two years," said Burgess. "At least we are cutting waist deep wheat and not the ankle high stuff we have seen in the past."

Burgess did report seeing some weed pressure in the Rice and Reno County areas as well, but so far the test weights on their operation are at 60-61 pounds per bushel and they're seeing 11 percent moisture.

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