Day 4, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

This is day 4 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.

Harvest has continued to spread throughout the state as the dry, hot Kansas winds continue to blow. These winds are successfully drying out fields sufficiently enough for many farmers statewide to begin their harvest.

Larry Brake, Mid-Kansas Coop Assn. in Abilene, is reporting a 30% harvested rate for the area since they began taking in loads on Saturday. Field yields have been variable with a range from 40-65 bushels an acre. Brake is quick to point out that there are lower yields in the areas that have been drowned out by standing water.

Test weights for the area have remained steady with an average of 60 pounds per bushel. While Brake didn’t have exact numbers, he is estimating a high protein content for the wheat that he has seen. Moisture levels are staying dry thanks to the hot winds with an average hovering around 10.9 percent.

Kyle Kaiser, Bushton, explains, “We have not had a terrible year, but we have had some bad fields.”

Disease has been on the minds of Kansas farmers for months, and for many it has taken a toll. Even though the Kaisers sprayed fungicide, they have seen a loss due to rust and barley yellow dwarf. Even with the disease loss, Kaiser is averaging 47-52 bushels per acre with test weights averaging from 61-63.5 pounds per bushel.

Garden City Coop representative Ken Jameson reported seeing the same disease effects as Kaiser. “The guys who didn’t spray are definitely seeing a difference.”

Test weights across the company’s 20 locations have averaged about 60.6 pounds per bushel. Moisture levels are staying at about 10.4 percent. Jameson says that this will most likely be a better year for averages in the area, with the exception of areas around Ulysses (many fields were zeroed out by adjusters due to drought) and Dighton (severe hailstorms struck the area in mid-May).

While weeds are beginning to pop up in south west Kansas, Jameson said, “The heat has really slowed the weeds down, but if we get another rain, we’ll be having some major issues.”

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