Kingfisher County’s wheat harvest progressed last week but was halted at least temporarily by new showers Tuesday morning.

The sporadic weather creates the likelihood that harvesting will continue into the July 4th holiday.

Grain elevator spokespersons in southern Kingfisher County routinely estimated the harvest at the half-way point Tuesday after a weekend with decent harvesting weather, but said Tuesday morning’s showers put a halt to harvesting operations until drying weather occurs.

Muddy fields continued to hamper combines.

CHS Elevator in Hennessey got a start on the harvest over the last weekend but received rain measuring from a half-inch in Hennessey to .8 inch east of there early Tuesday.

Debbie Gaither at Hennessey’s CHS elevator said harvest was just getting started when the new showers arrived.

Ray Alan Shimanek of Hennessey said at the meeting of Kingfisher County commissioners on Monday that he was able to harvest Friday through Sunday.

Chris Townsley, Kingfisher location manager for CHS elevator, estimated the local harvest was at the half-way point in the Kingfisher area as of Tuesday when an early-morning shower dropped another .21 inch of moisture, according to the Mesonet site on the Mueggenborg farm.

Other Mesonet rain reports included: Guthrie .32 inch, El Reno .44 inch, Marshall one inch and Watonga .06 inch.

The rain started about 7 a.m. so was not recorded for Tuesday at the National Weather Service station in Kingfisher where Steve Loftis is local weather observer. The National Weather Service records its high and low temperatures and rain amounts at 7 a.m. daily.

Unofficial rain gauge reports ranged in the 0.2inch to 0.3-inch area – enough to stop harvesting during the morning hours at least.

Ty Elwood, manager of the Okarche Grain and Feed elevator said harvest gained speed over the last week but was sporadic because of wet fields and in some cases grain was too wet.

Some producers have sprayed for weeds which have gummed up cutter bars. Sprayed fields will have to wait a week or 10 days to allow the weeds to die before harvesting resumes.

There were reports that some custom harvesters had begun moving equipment north for the next harvest stage, leaving a portion behind to handle local contracts.

Cashion Grain and Feed Elevator reported harvest started well last week with a good run on Monday, continuing until late in the day, but Tuesday’s showers also stopped harvesting there on Tuesday morning.

The local reports indicated test weights had dropped in to the 50’s due to continuing showers on the fields.

The Oklahoma Wheat Commission called the state’s wheat harvest at 15% complete.

Wheat harvest has moved steadily in most regions of southern Oklahoma this past week, the wheat commission reported.

Rains have hindered progress in other parts of the south central and western regions.

The rains in central and northern Oklahoma this past week along with the high humidity continue to delay ripening in those places.

Test weights for the most part remain favorable on what is being taken in, although some areas are reporting lower test weights where the crop has been more stressed.

Several locations are reporting 60-64 pounds per bushel.

Some lower test weights are being reported in the mid to high 50’s, but overall the state average is still coming in between 60-61 pounds per bushel.

Moisture has been ranging from 12-13%, with most wheat being taken in at around 12.5%.

Early yields being reported in southern Oklahoma are ranging from the low 20’s to the mid 50’s depending on location and management practices.

Some high management intensive producers in rare instances have reported yields in the mid -70’s to low 80’s. (Keep in mind this is in an area that received timely moisture in the Grandfield-Devol region. This area is predicted to have the best overall crop conditions for Oklahoma this year.)

Protein averages are being reported in a wide range from 10.5% to 12.5% depending on location. Some have reported protein to be as high as 15.5% on a few select fields.