Kansas Wheat Harvest Report, June 24

Year-in and year-out, Sumner County is the state's leading producer of wheat. This year, however, a late winter bout with sleet, followed by a month of rain has taken its toll on the 2009 wheat crop. Curt Guinn, general manager of the Farmers Co-op Grain Association of Wellington, reports that farmers are about 30% done with harvest, with fields yielding about half the normal wheat crop. Wheat quality is good considering the weather; 11.5 protein and an average 57 pound test weight. Farmers in Sumner County resumed harvest Tuesday after a few days of rain.

In Concordia, Bob Johnson, general manager of the Cloud County Co-op Elevator Association says farmers have hauled in more than 60,000 bushels already. Test weight is about 60 pounds, with 11.8 protein. The yield is better than average, Johnson reports.

Kansas Wheat Commissioner Rich Randall, Scott City, reports harvest is underway in southern Scott County. Wheat damaged by hail and severe weather is the first to be cut, with marginal yields being reported. Harvest should gear up in earnest toward the end of the week for the rest of the county.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Dean Stoskopf began harvesting near Hoisington Monday afternoon. Moisture ranges from 11 to 13.5% and test weights vary from 60 to 62 pounds per bushel. While too early to give accurate yield information, Stoskopf says the wheat is yielding better than anticipated. Harvest in northern Barton County is in full force Tuesday, he says.

Farmers are hauling in Hard Red and Hard White wheat to Skyland Grain, LLC in Johnson. Nearly 840,000 bushels of grain have been harvested thus far, with Hard White Wheat averaging about 63 pounds per bushel, with 12 protein. Test weights for Hard Red Wheat average about 60.5 pounds per bushel, with 14 protein. Yields average between 30 and 35 bushels per acre thus far.

The 2009 Harvest Salute to Producers is brought to you by Kansas Wheat in conjunction with sponsors Kansas City Board of Trade, DeBruce Grain and the Kansas Grain & Feed Association.

Kansas Wheat is the cooperative agreement between the Kansas Wheat Commission and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, joining together as "leaders in the adoption of profitable innovations for wheat."