Kansas wheat harvest report

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This is Day 3 of the 2014 Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and Kansas Grain and Feed Association.

During the day on Thursday, June 19, harvest has not progressed much more through the state due to wet conditions. Farmers statewide are still seeing lower than normal yields, higher than average protein content and a consistently decent test weight.

Jerald Kemmerer, manager at Pride Ag Resources in Dodge City, said that the dryland wheat farmers in his area have been harvesting since Monday. Yields have been struggling, like much of the south west part of Kansas, but their test weights have been holding up in the 58-60 pounds per bushel range. The protein content is higher than average. Kemmerer reports that irrigated wheat isn’t quite ready for harvest yet, but he predicts that it should commence next week.

Kemmerer said, “The last three or four harvests have been pretty bleak, so this year is pretty much right in line with that trend.”

Jeremy Salem, a representative of United Prairie Ag in Satanta, reported that his location had taken in about 10,000 bushels so far. Yields in his area have been struggling, ranging from five to 15 bushels an acre. The test weight range is 60-61 pounds per bushel. Salem estimates that this year’s crop will be about 90% of last year’s total, a prediction that he admits is optimistic.

Jesse Blasi, a farmer from Pratt County, said that most farmers in the area have gotten started, but there are a few holding off until the mud dries up. He has seen varying yields around the county, anywhere from 10 bushels an acre up to 45 bushels an acre. Blasi said that most of the eastern part of the county didn’t suffer as much freeze damage as the western part of the county, which could account for the yield variations. The test weights in the area are hitting 58-62 pounds per bushel. Blasi estimates that this year’s harvest will be equal to about 2/3rds  of last year’s totals.

Jared Wendelburg, a farmer from Stafford County, reported that his yields are ranging from about 30-40 bushels an acre. Overall, Wendelburg thinks the quality of his crop is good and the test weights are ranging between 58-60 pounds per bushel. Wendelburg said that this year’s harvest has been better than was expected, but, continuing with the statewide trend, it’s still not as good as last year’s wheat.

The 2014 Harvest Report is brought to you by Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and Kansas Grain and Feed Association.