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2008 Wheat harvest in full swing in Texas, OklahomaBy Jennifer M. Latzke The 2008 winter wheat harvest season is underway in the southern High Plains. Farmers in Texas and Oklahoma are in the midst of harvest, and Kansas farmers aren't far behind. Mark Hodges, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, reported that harvest is in full swing in Oklahoma south of Interstate 40. "We're 70 percent or so complete in the southern portion of the state, and 30 to 40 percent complete in the Kingfisher area," he said. "North of there, harvest is just getting cranked up pretty good." Test weights across the state are from 61 to 65 pounds per acre, with the majority falling in the 62 to 63 pound range, he added. "Kernel weights are at 30 to 35 grams, which is just outstanding," he added. "By and large producers are pleased with the yields they are seeing. Berry color is outstanding, too." Hodges said Oklahoma growers are faced with two issues right now--weather and transportation logistics. On the Oklahoma-Kansas border high winds and hail have slowed the progress of the wheat crop. "That continues to be a concern, because there have been significant hail losses in the areas that have been hit," he said. "We have way more moisture than needed in the same area and the further east you go." Those areas with the most rain have wheat that is still too green to cut, though. That means there may be time for the ground to dry up enough before equipment has to go into the fields. "Hail is an issue right now," Hodges said. "Right around the Grant County-Kay County and Ponca City-Blackwell area, they had a lot of rain but the wheat's still a little green. I don't know if the rain hurt immensely, but some had 5 to 6 inches in the low-lying areas." Another concern is in the southern portion of the state, where elevators are finding it difficult to get rail cars in a timely fashion to haul grain. With the high fuel prices, many in the industry were concerned that custom harvesters would be in short supply this season. Hodges said he'd spoken with elevator managers and they aren't seeing a major shortage. "There aren't as many custom harvesters this year, but it's all anecdotal," he said. "We're not seeing as many up and down Highway 81 as we've seen in the past. They aren't sitting around waiting to start like they usually do." While he wouldn't qualify it as a shortage, Hodges added that in the southern portion of the state, in the areas where harvest is in full swing, elevators are taking wheat as quickly as they possibly can, and more cutters would just make the lines longer. The May 1 USDA crop survey forecasted Oklahoma's wheat production at 148.5 million bushels, which is up 52 percent from last year. Harvested acreage will be 4.5 million acres, up one million from 2007. USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service is estimating an average yield at 33 bushels per acre, up five bushels from 2007. According to the June 4 Texas Crop and Weather Report, Panhandle dryland wheat farmers may face lower wheat yields due to poor fall moisture and virus infections. Brent Bean, Texas AgriLife Extension agronomist in Amarillo explained that most of the dryland wheat may yield between 10 and 20 bushels per acre. "The exception will be wheat planted on fallowed ground in the northeastern Panhandle," he added. That wheat had better establishments because of extra moisture in the soil profile, according to the report. Scattered rains this spring will make the difference. Yields may average 60 to 70 bushels per acre, according to Bean and Jackie Rudd, a Texas AgriLife Research wheat breeder in Amarillo. Rodney Mosier, executive vice president for Texas Wheat, reported that the crop statewide, as a whole, is about 51 percent of normal, compared to 81 percent as of last year. The May 1 U.S. Department of Agriculture crop survey estimated Texas wheat harvest at 98.6 million bushels, which is 30 percent lower than 2007 and 17 percent lower than the April 2008 forecast. Mosier said the next report, which should come out June 10, may be even lower yet. Farmers around the Amarillo area have just started harvest, and Mosier predicted yields to be down from previous years due to lack of moisture in the dryland acres, and disease problems in irrigated acres. Wheat streak mosaic was a particular concern to irrigated growers this year, he said. The highlight of Texas's wheat harvest should be in the Dallas area, where fields received adequate moisture. Dallas is just now cutting fields due to late maturing wheat, but farmers are reporting 50 to 70 bushels per acre yields with excellent test weights. Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached by phone at 620-227-1807 or by e-mail at jlatzke@hpj.com. 6/9/08 Date: 6/5/08 Advertisement
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