Kansas wheat harvest report

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This is Day 8 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.

Joanne Burgos, location manager of the Nemaha County Coop in Wamego, reported a variety of yields ranging from 35-75 bushels an acre. Rain has taken a toll on the area’s crop with  test weights averaging 62 pounds per bushel  before the week’s showers. After the rain, the average has dropped to 59 pounds per bushel. While Burgos doesn’t have data yet on the protein value after the latest rains, she reported that the protein content was about 12% beforehand. She said that quality has been running about the same as last year, but not as many wheat acres were planted in the area so the coop’s wheat intake has been lower. The location hasn’t seen any major dockage issues, and Burgos thinks that  if weather holds out Pottawatomie County farmers will be done by the end of the week.

United Farmer Coop representative Paul Heltne said that harvest in Republic County has been in full swing for around four days. The area around Norway has yields ranging from  16-45 bushels an acre. Rains have also been an issue for the area’s crop. Early on in harvest the test weights were ranging from 62-63 pounds per bushel, but have lowered because of the rain. Heltne predicts that harvest in the area will go on through the week, but that the total bushels harvested in the area will be down from last year.

Every rain cloud has to have a silver lining, and Palco farmer Mike McClellan looked for that in his harvest. McClellan said,”The straw is still tough from the humidity, so we aren’t able to go as fast as we’d like, but at least we’re able to get something done.” After cutting about five of his fields, he is seeing a yield range from 15-33 bushels an acre and test weights mostly ranging from 58-61 pounds per bushel. Fortunately, he is also not having major concern for dockage issues yet, but he has noticed an increase in weed pressure throughout the area.

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