Day 9, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

This is day 9 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.

Rains rocked central Kansas over the weekend, which meant ill-timed moisture for wheat harvest, but a nice drink of water for other recently-planted crops. These rains are expected to put a damper on what had been an otherwise great yielding harvest. Reports from McPherson and Reno counties said that Saturday’s storms had brought harvest to a halt on Sunday, and most likely Monday, as well.

David Radenberg, a Claflin farmer, said that he started cutting Tuesday of last week. Radenberg noted that while some straw on his fields was still “pretty green” the grain was ripe and ready for harvest. So far test weights have ranged from about 60-61 pounds per bushel.

Radenberg reported that he was seeing yields in the mid-40s, even in fields with no fertilizer. His fields near Claflin saw about an inch and a half of rain on Friday, while fields near Hollyrood received around three to four inches. Fields that he has worked on since the rain have been a little muddy, but not muddy enough to slow him down.

“You have to be mindful of mud holes,” said Radenberg. “Or at least try to remember where those mud holes were that you haven’t seen in five years.”

Jared Wendelburg, Stafford, said that his fields also saw around an inch and a half of rain on Friday night. Prior to the rain, he was seeing higher test weights than last year, ranging from 62-62.8. Yields had been looking perky, with estimated yields reaching 50 bushels an acre, but seeing some in the 40’s on sandier ground.

David Janzen, a Butler County farmer, said that his area didn’t receive this weekend’s moisture. His family started harvesting on Tuesday, and test weights have ranged from the upper 50s to low 60s. Yields for their crew have been in the 40s and 50s. Janzen estimates that his family has around two and a half day’s worth of harvesting left to do, and that his area is around 75 percent complete.

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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.