Day 5, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

This is day 5 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Grain and Feed Association.

Mother Nature has decided to throw a wrench into harvest as rain showers poured into wheat country. Over the weekend harvest spread its wings into western and eastern portions of Kansas while still shying away from venturing too far north. More showers are expected to come in through Tuesday across the Wheat State, so harvest’s continuation may be in limbo until later this week.

Randy Ackerman, manager of the Meade Coop Elevator & Supply Company in Meade, reported that the coop has taken in 75,000 bushels across its three locations and that the three locations all saw some showers Sunday night. Test weights have been “excellent,” averaging around 61.3-61.4 pounds per bushel.

While it’s pretty early in the game for a clear picture on proteins, the Englewood location has been ranging from 12.2-12.6 percent and the Meade location is reporting 11.6 percent. The wheat that has come through all locations has appeared to be remarkably clean. While farmers around Ackerman’s area have just gotten started, some report seeing up to 60 bushels an acre.

“While last year’s crop around here was decent, the previous three years had been very drought stricken,” said Ackerman. “This year’s wheat is looking like it will be above average.”

Nicole Small, a farmer from Neodesha, said that her family’s wheat harvest started on June 10. Harvest was rained out Sunday night for the Small family.

“What we’ve cut so far looks pretty good,” said Small. “This is going to be a much better harvest than last year.”

She reported harvesting around 50 bushels an acre on ground planted with relay beans, and test weights have all been more than 60 pounds per bushel.

Jack Queen, manager of the Farmers Coop Elevator Co. in Halstead, said that his branch saw the first load of wheat come in on June 8. He reports that everything so far has been “really clean wheat” with test weights ranging from 61-65 pounds per bushel. Proteins have come in at up to 11 percent with yields ranging from 40-50 bushels an acre.

The Halstead area was 20 percent harvested up to Sunday, and he predicts that farmers will have around 75 percent harvested by next weekend, if the rains stay away.

According to Monday’s NASS report, the state is five percent harvested, behind the 15 percent average; but winter wheat coloring is 92 percent, ahead of the five-year average of 75.

The 2016 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. For exclusive #wheatharvest16 content, please head to facebook.com/kansaswheat.