Despite problems from beginning to end, the 2023 wheat crop was better than expected, according to an Oklahoma State University Extension harvest wrap-up.

Kingfisher County producers met adversity from start to finish.

Drought conditions dominated the early growing season, then when it looked like harvest would start and end in May, rain began falling, filling heads better than expected.

Then rain hampered harvest operations as producers dodged rains in late May and June to get harvest equipment into sodden fields, forcing producers to continue harvesting into July, later than normal.

Except for the CHS Elevator at Hennessey where grain was still arriving Thursday, Kingfisher County elevators were basically done with harvest.

District 2 County Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek, who also farms, commented that some fields in the vicinity were being laid over for hay due to high grass in them.

Debbie Gaither at the CHS Elevator at Hennessey said “decent” grain was still coming in there Thursday although there was concern about the forecast for more showers overnight.

Local Weather Observer Steve Loftis recorded .42 inch at the National Weather Service Station in Kingfisher Friday morning.

The OSU Extension harvest summary, headlined “Wheat harvest review: Cool, wet spring surprises producers with better-than-expected yields” by Gail Ellis, editorial communications director, follows in part: After months of drought throughout much of Oklahoma, it finally rained, delaying the conclusion of a rare year in wheat production. The last fields of the 2023 harvest are expected to be cut this week.

Initial predictions for this year’s yields were grim, and although some wheat fields were failed by insurance adjusters or baled for forage, producers were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the wheat they cut.

Central: Kingfisher County Matt Murray, whose production is located near Omega, said his average harvest yields were better than what he had expected at 35 bushels per acre. He usually finishes harvest by the end of June, but this year’s strange spring conditions meant Murray and his neighbors were still combining wheat well into July. A late harvest due to rain also led to problems controlling grass and weeds in his fields.

“We’ll never turn down a rain, but we went from drought to too wet,” he said. “Timely rains helped us out toward the end, I guess, but even the old timers say they’ve never seen anything like this.”

Northwest: Cimarron County Scott Arthaud in Boise City failed all his dryland wheat in early April when the crop showed no prospect of producing anything. Other producers in his county who waited to call an insurance adjuster got lucky when it began to rain weeks later. The wheat showed excellent filling. Many producers planted oats behind failed wheat and are now struggling to get it baled.

“Everything feels like it’s about two weeks late out here just because of the cooler temperatures, but the moisture has been great,” he said. “The rain we received in May and June was perfect for my irrigated wheat, which wasn’t as thin.”

The wet and cool spring improved his irrigated wheat that he plans to finish cutting this week, and he expects average yields. Although not all his fields measure the sub-moisture levels he’d like to see just yet, he said his part of the panhandle has turned a corner with drought.

“It’s been a tough two years, but the weather pattern has changed enough that we’re in excellent shape,” Arthaud said. “This is about as good as it gets here in Cimarron County.”