As the Kansas wheat harvest enters its ninth day, farmers are grappling with rain delays and hailstorms, prolonging the already drawn-out process. According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report for the week ending July 9, only 4.1 suitable days for fieldwork were recorded from July 3 to July 9. Farmers are coping with a range of emotions, including annoyance, tension, and cautious hope, since harvest is already 59% complete, well behind last year's 93% and the average of 84%.
In Ellis County, northwest of Hays, Eric Werth, General Manager at Golden Belt Coop, highlights the challenges faced due to persistent wet conditions. Farmers are eagerly awaiting drier weather, and Werth estimates that they are about 90% finished with this year's harvest. However, the rain has brought an unwelcome guest in the form of increased weed growth, adding to their concerns.
Werth reported reduced yields compared to prior years, with yields averaging approximately 30 bushels per acre, however some brighter places approach 40 bushels per acre. This is despite a late start on June 21. Test weights are encouraging at approximately 62 pounds per bushel, but protein levels have been relatively low. The Trinity Ag elevator in Smith Center, seventeen miles west of the continental U.S. center, echoes similar sentiments.
The recent rain delays have disrupted harvest operations, leading to slower progress. Test weights initially ranged from 60 to 63 pounds per bushel but have dropped to around 58 pounds per bushel due to the storms. Yields have varied, but even in the best fields, farmers have seen yields of only 35 to 40 bushels per acre. Intense weed pressure has forced some farmers to abandon their fields, with kochia and pigweeds taking over.
Hailstorms have also affected parts of northwest Kansas, but fortunately, crop destruction has been limited. However, Smith and Phillips counties anticipate further rain and storm activity in the coming week. Custom harvest crews, such as MJB Harvesting from Grainfield, Kansas, are eagerly awaiting improved conditions to begin their operations. Unfortunately, most of their Kansas customers have been impacted by hail or drought, resulting in reduced yields of 15 to 35 bushels per acre.
Despite the challenges faced in Kansas, crop conditions in areas north of the state are showing signs of improvement. The MJB harvesting crew, composed of local workers, high schoolers, and J-1 visa employees, has been on the road since May 22, starting from Texas and progressing all the way to Montana. While the wheat crop has faced adversity, the crew remains optimistic as they continue their journey.
Stay tuned for the next Kansas Wheat harvest report on July 12, as farmers and harvest crews strive to make progress despite the persistent weather challenges.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Kansas, Weather