Frustration is the word of the week for Kingfisher County farmers.

Producers continued to fight muddy fields last week as the 2019 grain harvest dragged into its fourth week.

Rain-soaked fields continued to take a heavy toll on equipment with combines, grain buggies and trucks bogged down in fields countywide.

“We may be out here in August,” one farmer commented as he contemplated trying to harvest again Friday.

Mark Kirschner, manager of the CHS Elevator in Hennessey, said the wheat harvest in North Kingfisher County is at about the 25 percent mark when it is normally about over by now.

The same story was repeated throughout the county: the wheat is ready but producers can’t get to it.

“This isone for the record book,” said Cashion Grain and Feed Elevator Manager John Schaefer.

“We got started back a little bit yesterday (Thursday) but the mud is keeping harvesters out of the fields,” he said.

Rick Brueggen at CHS Elevator in Okarche said producers are patching around from field to field where they can get in but everyone is fighting the mud.

Wheat quality is holding up surprisingly well after more rain during the past week although test weights dropped a point or two after the last round of rain.

Randall Varnell, manager of the Wheeler Brothers Grain elevator in Kingfisher, said test weights in the 57 pound range are more common now “but some is really, really good.”

Brueggen said some 60-pound per bushel wheat is still showing up.

Varnell said a little bit of wheat came in Thursday at the Kingfisher elevator but producers were all fighting muddy fields.

Kristi Washington at Okarche Grain and Feed elevator said harvest resumed on a limited scale in that area Thursday with test weights slightly lower but with some still in the 60s range.

B.J. Waeger at the Wheeler Brothers Elevator at Omega estimated harvest at 40-45 percent complete in that area.

“We had a really good run Thursday,” he said and added he hoped for another one Friday.

Waeger said test weights are holding in the 60s range.

Wet fields are holding up harvest operations in that area also.

“Those praying for rain can quit now,” he quipped.

The forecast calls for another round of thunderstorms starting Saturday and continuing into the early part of the week before becoming “mostly sunny” later in the week.