Kansas wheat harvest report

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This is day 1 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 this first harvest report of 2014, wheat farmers across the state are fighting mud and poor wheat yields as harvest commences.

Steve Inslee, manager of OK Coop Grain Co., says that wheat has been trickling into his location for about a week and a half. In all about 100,000 bushels of grain has been taken into all locations of the coop, and Inslee says that he is hoping for about 500,000 bushels for this harvest season. Yields in the Kiowa area fluctuate, but the average range is around 10-12 bushels per acre and test weights are coming in at about 58 pounds per bushel. Inslee says the best yields have come from the Everest variety.

Inslee says, “This is probably not even half of what we took in last year, and last year was half of a normal crop.”

Janice Gates reports that her family’s harvest began on Friday in Anthony, but it came to a halt over the weekend due to the rain the area received. The Gates’ wheat was coming in at around 57-59 pounds per bushel before the rain, but since they resumed harvesting on Tuesday afternoon Janice wasn’t aware if the rain had any effect on those test weights. Gates’ yields are around 10 bushels per acre and she predicts that they will be harvesting for another 10 days.

Scott Van Allen, farmer in Clearwater, says that his yields also are leaving much to be desired. But he also is fighting the height of the wheat. The shorter crop makes it more difficult for his machines to keep the header out of the mud. Van Allen is also reporting test weights at about 58 pounds per bushel. Although harvest has just started in his area, Van Allen thinks that farmers will be wrapping up in about 10 days.

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