According to the latest progress report from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, released Wednesday afternoon, wheat harvest continues to move from Southern Oklahoma with locations on the Oklahoma/Texas State Line reporting to be 95 to 97% complete, while harvest is just starting in locations on the Oklahoma/Kansas state line. Rain has hindered harvest from progressing across the state this past weekend with rain showers also impacting producers last night in many locations across the Western half of Oklahoma. The wet conditions with high humidity has made it difficult for producers to get early starts cutting even where the ground was dry enough to carry the combines yesterday afternoon.
Rain averages last night were reported by many locations to be anywhere from .1 inches to over 2 inches depending on the location with the Mesonet reporting only .04 inches in some parts of Oklahoma on the Oklahoma/Texas line. Over the weekend some parts of Western Oklahoma had locations that received anywhere from 4 to 7 inches of moisture right before the wheat was ready to cut. Test weights have dropped in many areas across Oklahoma, and some producers are concerned they will have lost another pound after the rains last night. Fortunately, the test weights were starting out this harvest extremely high. Many elevator locations, as of today, are still hoping for a 60 lbs./bu. average, with some locations starting to report test weights ranging in the 58 to 59 lbs./bu. range. It has been stated that we have two crops in the field since many producers opted for later plantings in Central and Northern Oklahoma based on other crop rotations they have been using. This, and the cooler temperatures, have been helpful on test weight up to this point for the crop that is left in the field to be harvested. Yields across the state have been ranging all over the board depending on management, heavy rains and hail damage. Across Southwest Oklahoma, we have heard of yields ranging from the mid teens to the mid twenties, with also better yields in some areas of this region reported to be in the mid 30’s to mid 40’s. The same is holding true for Central and Northern Oklahoma. As we have moved into Northern Oklahoma, we have been hearing higher yields in the mid 40’s, with some reports of wheat being in the mid 50’s. Many elevator managers are hopeful we will have later wheat coming in with yields higher if we can just get ahead of the rains. One thing impacting the amount of bushels being taken in at all locations is the amount of wheat acres that have gone into other crops; whether it be cotton, canola, sesame, soybeans or hay. We have also seen acreage decline for larger amounts of the crop being grazed out early this spring. In parts of Southwest Oklahoma, elevators plan on taking in 50 to 60 percent of the bushels they would normally take in based on the acres that are being planted to cotton. Elevators in North Central Oklahoma have been making the same comments based on producers opting for other options with canola and soybeans. Proteins across Oklahoma are being reported in the 10.5 to 11% range. We have had some reports on some proteins as high as 13% in North Central Oklahoma.
Report by Locations:
Grandfield- Harvest reported to be 95 to 97% complete A lot of the wheat in this region was heavily grazed. Due to the heavy rains and hail they are seeing yield reports making in the mid 20’s to mid 30’s with the occasional 40+ yield. Test Weights reported from 59 to 61 lbs./bu.
Chattanooga- Harvest reported to be 95 to 97% complete. A lot of the wheat in this region was heavily grazed and due to the heavy rains and hail, they are seeing yield reports making in the mid 20’s to mid 30’s. Test weights reported from 59-61 lbs./bu.
Lone Wolf- Harvest in this region reported to be 85% complete. The test weights in this region have been averaging 60 lbs./bu. Yields in the region ranging from the mid 20’s to the mid 30’s with reports of some wheat making better than 40 bushels per acre.
Hobart- Harvest in this area is reported to be 85% complete. The test weights in this region have been averaging 60 lbs./bu. Yields in the region ranging from the mid 20’s to the mid 30’s with some wheat in the region reported to be making in the mid 40’s.
Granite- Harvest in this region reported to be 85% complete. Test weights in this area have been doing remarkably well, ranging from 60 to 64 lbs./bu. Yields in this region also reported to be higher with reports of a lot of wheat making in the mid 40’s to mid 50’s.
Rocky- Harvest in this region is reported to be 50% complete. The rains over the weekend and last night have producers in this region at a standstill, with hopes they will be able to get back into the fields hopefully on Friday. Test weights in this region are ranging from 58 to 60 lbs./bu. Prior to the rains, a lot of wheat was taken in at this location with test weights ranging from 62 to 64 lbs./bu. Yields in this region are reported to be making in the mid 30’s for the most part.
Sentinel- Harvest was progressing yesterday with combines planning to continue today since the rains were missed last night. Test weights in this region reported from 59 to 60 lbs./bu. Yields have not been reported since harvest in the area is just beginning.
Greenfield- Before Friday, test weights in the region were coming in extremely high with most weights ranging from 63 to 64 lbs./bu. It is estimated 1/3 of the crop is harvested in this area. The rains over the weekend and last night have placed harvest at a standstill with the hopes producers will be able to get back into the fields by Friday at the earliest. Some wheat was harvested in the region late yesterday afternoon with test weights ranging from 59 to 60 lbs./bu. Yields in the region reported to be making anywhere from the mid 20’ to the mid 50’s.
Kingfisher- After the weekend rains, producers started harvesting again in parts of this region yesterday afternoon. In many parts of this area the rains went West so producers will be harvesting in the area this afternoon as well. Test weights, as of yesterday, were ranging for the most part, from 59.5 to 60 lbs./bu. Yields are reported all over the range from the mid 20’s to the mid 40’s, depending on the rains and hail damage. Some reports indicate a few producers had some yields in the mid 50’s before the rains this past weekend.
Helena- Harvest in this region has started with a couple of producers cutting. Test weights on the 3,000 bushels that has been taken in is reported in the range of 60 to 61 lbs./bu. No yields from the area have been reported.