Kingfisher County producers and elevators are in the midst of a harvest to remember – one to help take the bad taste out of their mouths from the preceding year.

Farmers and elevators countywide were busy until midnight over the weekend, gathering in the new crop.

Elevator managers estimated the harvest from 40 to 80 percent complete as of Monday.

The local National Weather Service forecast called for fair skies and warming temperatures for the rest of the week, which would allow a quick finish to the last big rush of the crop year.

The forecast called for daytime highs from the high 80s to a 100-degree reading on Friday.

Low night time humidity after warm, breezy days allowed producers to stay in the fields until well after dark in recent days.

Jason Kroener, CHS manager for Oklahoma and Texas locations, reported a big weekend for the Okarche elevator.

“Everything’s going well; we’re moving grain around to make sure we have room for this crop,” he said.

He estimated the harvest for that area was well over half complete – maybe 80% – with grain still in the 60 pounds per bushel (No. 1) range and above.

Manager Randall Varnell of Wheeler Brothers Grain Elevator in Kingfisher proclaimed the harvest “wonderful.”

“We’ve been able to put a few good (harvesting) days together and we’re 70% done,” he said.

“By this weekend, we should be in the short rows.”

Varnell said quality is holding up with most wheat weighing 60 pounds and above and a lot of 50-60 bushels per acre yields have been heard.

He said custom harvesters are still working in the county, but they’re getting a “little jumpy” with Kansas wheat nearly ready for harvest.

While the clear, dry, hot days have helped harvesting operations locally, Varnell noted that several chances for showers have been missed and expressed concern that may be a trend for the summer months.

John Schaefer, manager of Cashion Grain and Feed Elevator, estimated the harvest at the half-way point after a busy weekend.

“The quality remains exceptionally high – 60 pounds and above, he said.

Last weekend marked the first time the Cashion harvest could get untracked due to frequent showers and high humidity.

Keith Boeckman, manager of CHS Elevator in Hennessey, said harvest started there in a big way for the first time over the weekend.

Earlier, damp crops and fields had held up the harvest start. High quality and good yields remained the norm.

Ty Elwood, manager of Okarche Grain and Feed eight miles west of Okarche, reported excellent harvest conditions over the weekend with a big run of harvested bushels.

“I’ve been stuck in the elevator due to the rush, so I haven’t been able to get out and check fields,” he said, finally adding a “rough guess” of 40 to 80%.

Reports from the two elevators at Omega were similar. “Everything’s good.”

Greg Stover at CHS said the elevator had a busy weekend with really, really good wheat coming in.”

Yields of 50 bushels per acre were common.

CHS Elevator at Omega, where Tim Weber is manager, called the harvest “exceptional” with heavy wheat and larger than average yields.

The Monday report from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission said: Oklahoma wheat harvest made good progress in most regions over the weekend. Rain showers in parts of the Panhandle region delayed harvest on dryland production, but producers are hopeful to get moving again later today or tomorrow.

Some light showers in other parts of western Oklahoma and southern Oklahoma delayed producers in some parts, but for the most part it did not hinder combines from rolling over the weekend in those areas. Elevator locations reporting a lot of movement in all areas. Harvest still moving from the Oklahoma-Texas border to the Oklahoma/ Kansas border, with larger percentages completed in southwest, western and central Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling wheat harvest for the state 55% complete.

Central Oklahoma

El Reno-Producers made a great deal of progress in this region over the weekend. Yields in the region ranging from the mid 40’s to the mid 50’s for the most part. Test weights averaging 60 lbs. per bushel and above. Proteins varying across the board from 9% to 13%. Higher than lower proteins reported for the region calling the average 11.5% to 12%. This location is reported at 70% complete.

Reeding/Kingfisher/Omega/Okeene-Test weights ranging from 60 lbs. to 62 lbs. per bushel, as they have dropped slightly with the rains but overall are holding up. Yields ranging from mid 40’s to low 50’s for the most part. Some higher yields have been noted in low to mid 60’s on fields with some pushing 70 on wheat that was intensively managed. Protein ranging from 9% to 13.5%. Right now, it is looking like an 11.0% to 11.2% average for the region. Harvest in the Kingfisher and Reeding locations reported at 60 to 65% complete. Harvest in the Omega and Okeene regions reported at 30 to 40% complete.

Northern Oklahoma

Kremlin/ Hunter/ Lamont- Harvest had good movement over the weekend in this region. Test weights ranging from 60 lbs. to 62 lbs. per bushel. Yields ranging in the low 40’s to low 50’s on early cuttings. Fields with high management intensive systems being reported with yields as high as 70 bushels per acre. Early reports on protein showing an 11.5% to 12% average. These locations reported at 25%complete.