Kansas Winter Wheat Harvest Winds Down After Favourable Weekend Weather

(Cattle Network) -- Cooperative weather allowed much of the state to proceed with wheat harvest over the Fourth of July weekend. At this point, southern Kansas is all but finished, with northwest Kansas getting over the halfway mark.

Shirley Zweygardt, grain merchandiser at the St. Francis Mercantile Equity Exchange, says harvest is about half complete in Cheyenne County, with the elevator taking in about 500,000 bushels so far. Test weights average about 61 pounds per bushel, and protein has ranged from 13.8-14.5%. Yields range from 20 to 60 bushels per acre.

Harvest is also about half finished in the Oberlin vicinity, says Dalene Horton, grain merchandiser of the Decatur Coop Association, Oberlin. Above average grain quality is standard, with test weight averages of 61-62 pounds and protein, 12%. Farmers are reporting yields in the 50-60 bushel per acre range.

The Ransom branch of the Garden City Coop has taken in about 500,000 bushels as harvest winds down, according to manager Wally Schweitzer. On average test weights are 61 pounds per bushel, with protein averaging in the low 11% range. Yields of 50 bushels per acre are the norm, Schweitzer says.

Woodston farmer Jerry McReynolds, secretary/treasurer of the National Association of Wheat Growers, finished Saturday. He reports that where hail and wind missed the crop, yields averaged 45 to 50 bushels per acre in his area.

Dave Studebaker, manager of the Delphos Coop Association, says harvest in northern Ottawa County is nearly complete. Studebaker anticipates the elevator will take in 1.4 million bushels of grain, as farmers report yields averaging about 50 bushels per acre. Quality is very good, with protein values of 12% and above and test weights, 59-60 pounds per bushel. Test weights are down three pounds from the beginning of harvest.

Chad Baker at the Seneca location of the Nemaha County Coop Association, says harvest should be complete by the end of the week. It’s been a disappointing wheat harvest, as rain showers have compromised test weights, which average about 52 pounds per bushels. Protein values are about 11.5% and yields have ranged from 15 to 60 bushels per acre.

The 2008 Harvest Salute to Producers is brought to you by Kansas Wheat in conjunction with sponsors the Kansas City Board of Trade, DeBruce Grain and the Kansas Grain and Feed Association.