Kingfisher County’s wheat harvest is virtually finished and the results are widely varied.

While some wheat that was harvested early was outstanding, later harvested grain, which was hampered by late rains, shows a different picture.

County Extension Director/ Agriculture Educator Bryan Kennedy said while there were some outstanding fields, both in yields and quality, fields that were delayed by rain had problems.

Those included lighter weights, which meant fewer bushels per acre, and trash – crab grass and spring-sprouting weeds – that producers could not remove through tillage due to lack of tillage time from a late start because of dry conditions at the normal planting time.

Kennedy pointed to high input cost for crops and uncertain market prices as problems for producers, especially for younger ones.

Grain that sells for under $5 a bushel per acre will yield less than $250 for a field that yields 50 bushels an acre, a normally good yield.

With high input costs for labor, seed, spraying, equipment and fertilizer, producers are looking at their hole card, he said.

There were some outstanding yields, a few reports of up to 70 bushels per acre, but that was not the norm, especially after the rains set in.

“It’s hard for producers to keep their heads above water in those conditions,” Kennedy added.

“I am 100% proud of what our farmers accomplished this year but I believe the general attitude is that they’re glad it’s over,” Kennedy said.

Local grain elevators gave a general rating of below average to the crop, usually mentioning the problems the late rains caused.

While March rains provided the opportunity for a decent crop after prolonged drought conditions, the inopportune showers that kept arriving after the wheat ripened hurt the harvest.

A number of producers continued harvesting this week – fields where harvesting had to be delayed after spraying for late-surging weeds and others where muddy low spots prevented a complete harvest earlier.

John Schaefer, manager of Cashion Grain and Feed, termed this year’s harvest “more on the down side,” mostly due to rain delays and the weeds that sprouted late. He said a few producers were still harvesting.

Kingfisher CHS Elevator Manager Chris Townsley described the local harvest “on the lower end of average.”

A Hennessey CHS Elevator spokesperson termed harvest there as “decent but not one of our best.”

Harvesting there was prolonged due to spraying for weeds. Harvesting is required to be delayed one week before delivering grain to elevators after a field is sprayed for weeds.

While difficult to complete, the harvest was not a washout.

Several comments from local elevator operators were positive.

Randall Varnell, manager of Wheeler Brothers Grain in Elevator in Kingfisher, rated the 2025 harvest in the good range, historically.

It was as good as last year and last year’s harvest was a surprise, he said.

Varnell said a few loads were still arriving.

A spokesperson at Okarche CHS Elevator said the harvest there was “better than expected” but did not attempt to rate it overall.

Cashion Grain and Feed reported Friday it was back to operating normal hours.

CHS Elevator in Kingfi sher reported that while rains had slowed the harvest, it was very close to the end now.

Townsley said the quality was able to remain decent throughout the rainplagued season. Okarche Grain and Feed reported a couple of producers were still mopping up last week.

Kyle Schroder of CHS Elevator in Okarche said the harvest there continued to show surprisingly good results.

“It’s amazing the quality of the wheat after frequent rains; the grain is a little whiter than earlier but test weights remain good,” Schroder reported.

He said five or six harvesters were still working there late last week.

“If we could get three (clear) days, we could be done,” Schroder said.

He got his wish with clear skies and hot temperatures dominating the weekend weather.

The forecast calls for continued hot days without rain in the county with the area in a “heat dome” that is expected to produce uncomfortable highs.

While helpful for harvesters, the heat and dry weather have taken a toll on lawns, gardens and pastures with cracks appearing in the soil.