May 26, 2004

 

 

US Oklahoma Wheat Harvest Picks Up Ahead Of Normal

 

The 2004 Oklahoma wheat harvest began in the southern counties recently with fieldwork now being reported up past the central half of the state, industry officials said.

 

Mark Hodges, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, revealed that cutting has been reported just north of Kingfisher, which sits near the center of the state, just northwest of Oklahoma City.

 

Recent hot, dry weather has accelerated wheat ripening and put harvest ahead of schedule.

 

"We are harvesting in the central part of the state in the last week of May, normally cutting in the southern areas begins in the last part of the first week of June," said Hodges.

 

The Oklahoma weekly crop update released late Monday also said wheat harvest is running a week to 10 days ahead of normal. Eighty-six percent of the state's crop is already in the soft dough stage, up 18 points from the five-year average.

 

But Hodges also pointed out that fairly general showers have slowed near-term fieldwork in the southwestern and central sections of the state. He also said that so far there have been no lines at elevators, indicating that harvest has not yet reached full swing.

 

Initial yield reports have come in about average, and early test weights have been described as good.

 

Hodges said that generally early test weights have come in at 60-64 lbs per bushel. There was also one report of a test weight of up to 66 lbs, which Hodges said he had never encountered.

 

However, on Monday a few test weights in the 58- to 59-lb area were also reported.

 

"We are optimistic about what we've seen to this point," said Hodges, while also recognizing that a lot of fields still remain to be cut.

 

As of May 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast Oklahoma's 2004 wheat yield at 36 bushels an acre for a state output of 154.8 million bushels, compared to 2003 when the yield was 39 bushels per acre for a crop of 179.4 million.