July 14, 2010
Kansas wheat harvest nears completion
As of July 11, wheat harvest was 92% complete in Kansas, with most of the remaining acreage in Sherman, Cheyenne and Thomas counties.
On Friday (July 9), the Kansas Agriculture Statistics estimated the 2010 Kansas wheat crop would total some 369 million bushels, from 8.2 million acres, an average of 43 bushels per acre. If realised, that would be the fifth highest yield on record.
Brad Cowan, president and chief executive officer of Frontier Ag, Inc., said that three days into harvest, farmers are reporting dryland yields ranging from 65-80 bushels per acre and irrigated yields in the 80 bushel per acre range. Test weights average 61.5 pounds per bushel and protein is 11.4-11.8. In its 29 locations throughout western Kansas, Frontier Ag has taken in 14 million bushels of wheat and expects the 2010 harvest to total 19 million bushels.
Meanwhile, Jeff Bhend, manager of Scoular Corporation's Goodland location, said farmers are reporting yields from 45-70 bushels per acre, with an average of about 55 bushels per acre. Despite frequent rain showers, test weight has stayed at 62 pounds per bushel and protein is 11.5 and up. Bhend said this wheat crop is one of the most productive in the last 10 years.
On the Colorado border, Tamara Nagel at the Kanorado Coop Association said harvest in that area has been going on for about three days, with an above average crop expected. Test weights average about 61.5 pounds per bushel and early yields are in the 50-60 bushel per acre range. The cooperative has received about 400,000 bushels of wheat so far.
