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Stormy weather delays wheat harvestBy Jennifer Latzke and Doug Rich Mother Nature is in control of the winter wheat harvest in the High Plains. Storms containing rain, hail, and high winds have stopped wheat harvest for the moment. Harvest was well underway in Texas and Oklahoma until the wet field conditions moved combines back to the edge of the fields. Kansas and Colorado are waiting for the crop to fully ripen. Oklahoma The Oklahoma wheat harvest that started off with a bang last week has slowed to a crawl this week, due to large rains throughout most of the state over the weekend of June 7 and 8. Mark Hodges, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, reported that harvest is progressing in the state. The OWC reported that south of Interstate 40 harvest was nearly 70 to 80 percent completed, with test weights still in the range of 62 pounds per bushel, from June 4 to June 6. OWC also reported that in the Frederick and Eldorado areas of the state, harvest was just nearly done as the light showers started up on June 6. North of I-40, in Oklahoma, producers were getting ready to cut in the Alva area, and the growers around Kingfisher were in full swing. From June 4 to 6, the northern part of the state completed about 20 to 55 percent of its harvest, with test weights around Alva showing 60 to 61 pounds per bushel. The area is a hot spot for Jagger, with Overly, Cutter and a few other early varieties as well. The weekend of June 7 and 8 brought 2 to 5 inches of rain throughout the state, though, which has delayed harvest. OWC reported that Lahoma received 4.3 inches of rain, Medford received 3.39 inches, and Newkirk had 2.31 inches as of June 6. As of June 10, Panhandle producers had yet to take to the fields due to high moisture levels, but with more wind and sunshine in sight, there was hope they would cut in the region beginning June 11 or 12. Hodges reported that cutting had begun in the Hooker and Texhoma areas June 11. "Initial reports showed test weights were lower than in the body of Oklahoma," Hodges said. Before this last rain, test weights were averaging 61 to 65 pounds per bushel, and Hodges speculated that the rain on June 8 may lower test weights in the crop. Test weights in the Panhandle region were not that good, he reported, but they showed much better proteins, like you would expect because the area had been under moisture stress. In the Panhandle, elevator managers are reporting starting test weights of 58 to 60 pounds per bushel, with very good proteins. Despite the rains in the northern portions of the state, the crop outlook is still favorable, the OWC reported. Elevators are reporting that custom cutters are starting to move from the southern portions of Oklahoma to the northern counties and lines are starting to become a little shorter at some elevators, Hodges said. "As soon as we get dry weather enough to get into the fields in Oklahoma, I suspect we'll also have wheat in southern Kansas ready to cut," he said. "We may have a situation of cutting wheat from the Texas-Oklahoma southern line on up into southern Kansas, so it will stretch the available combines that are out there, I'd guess." Texas Rodney Mosier, executive vice president of the Texas Wheat Producers, reported that harvest is starting in the Panhandle of Texas. Weather slowed harvest progress over the weekend, with a storm system that swept through parts of Texas June 8. The recent USDA crop report came out June 10, and increased production estimates for Texas. "It was surprising to me that it would increase production from Texas to 102 million bushels, from the 96.8 million bushels previous," Mosier said. He explained that Texas growers are expecting lower yields across the High Plains. In the Black Lands, Mosier said early quality reports show excellent yields with proteins below average. In the Panhandle, though, distressed crops will mean that test weights and yields will be lower, but proteins are expected to be higher. This will require blending wheat to meet miller quality specifications down the line. As of June 9, about 35 percent of the state is harvested, Mosier said. With the Panhandle area just starting, harvest will likely extend on into the second week of July. Some irrigated wheat will also be a bit later than normal, he said. Of course, Mosier added, with the coming hot and dry weather in parts of the state, harvest could progress faster than anticipated. Kansas As of June 10, combines in Kansas were still in the sheds as rain and severe weather stopped the normally early cutters in the south central part of the state. The staff at Kansas Wheat is reporting that hail and strong winds in that area had laid many fields flat, and many portions of the region had seen excessive rainfall. Kansas Wheat is estimating the harvest won't be fully underway until the week of June 15 and only if the weather cooperates. Western Kansas growers may get a jump on that, starting June 12 or 13. All signs point to Kansas growers watching their 4th of July fireworks from combine cabs this year. Kansas wheat reported that high fuel prices will be just a small part of the ever rising input costs wheat farmers will contend with this year. The price for fuel used in ag production rose 6.2 percent from April and nearly 49 percent from this time last year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers. Rates for custom-cutting this year will be higher, with reports of $20 to $25 per acre, rather than the $17 per acre charged last year. The Kansas Wheat Harvest Program is underway. The program is a combined effort through Kansas Wheat and the Kansas Department of Commerce. Growers looking for custom cutters can call the toll free hotline, at 877-251-4328, from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m., seven days a week. There is a 24-hour voicemail service as well. Or, farmers can e-mail WheatHarvest@KansasCommerce.com, and reach the staff at the Kansas Department of Commerce for listings. More custom harvester information can also be found through U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc., at www.uschi.com. Colorado On June 9 the Colorado Field Office for the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported the state's winter wheat crop was rated mostly fair to poor condition. The crop was 82 percent headed with 15 percent of the crop turning color. Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached by phone at 620-227-1807, or by e-mail at jlatzke@hpj.com. Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304, or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com. 6/16/08 Date: 6/13/08 Advertisement
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