Frequent showers over the past week stalled wheat harvest operations in Kingfi sher County.

However clearing skies and warmer weather changed the picture on Wednesday and Thursday.

Local elevators began receiving wheat Wednesday after skies cleared and grain fields dried out.

“We had a fairly busy day Wednesday and today looks like it’s going to be busier with harvesting expected to start earlier in the day,” Randall Varnell, manager of Wheeler Brothers Grain in Kingfisher reported Thursday.

Much of the wheat is ready for the combines countywide.

The same picture applied to the entire state.

A Hennessey CHS Elevator spokesperson reported Thursday the harvest finally got under way there on Wednesday with quality generally okay – wheat weight registering between 57 and 64 pounds per bushel and moisture content acceptable.

Wheat also began arriving again at Okarche Grain and Feed Elevator, west of Okarche, Wednesday with quality holding up, according to Manager Ty Elwood.

John Schaefer, manager at Cashion Grain and Feed, reported the harvest still had not resumed Wednesday due to rain the preceding day but he was more optimistic about Thursday as clearing skies and improved drying conditions made their appearance.

Jason Kroener, manager of CHS operations in Oklahoma and portions of Texas, said Thursday that the harvest reopened for the Okarche and other CHS elevators on Wednesday with combines hitting the fields before noon on Thursday, for the first time in a long time.

Wheat continued to test heavy - most in the 60s - and yield reports continuing promising.

Kroener estimated the local harvest at 35 to 40 percent complete by Thursday.

He added that custom combine crews remain in good supply locally, improving the picture as the harvest hits its busiest time yet.

Scattered light showers returned after 5 p.m. Thursday – enough to halt sone harvesting operations, including one in the immediate Kingfisher area.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for warming temperatures for the next 10 days, including a high of 102 on Sunday.

Showers and scattered showers were predicted for Monday and Tuesday, partly cloudy on Wednesday and mostly sunny weather Thursday and Friday followed by a sunny forecast next Saturday.

Highs in the mid- to upper- 90s were forecasted for the last of the week.

Amanda De Olivera Silva, Small Grain Extension specialist at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, provided the following report on the Oklahoma harvest on Thursday on the Oklahoma Wheat Commission website: The Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling wheat harvest for the state 25% complete.

Southwest and Western Oklahoma Grandfield/ Chattanooga/ Lawton - This region has been plagued by heavy rainsthispastweek. Areas around Chattanooga received 4 to 5 inches of moisture while Grandfield and Lawton also received 1 inch to 1 ½ inches of moisture.

Test weight has dropped slightly in all regions with some weights now coming in at 58lbs. to 59lbs. per bushel.

Yields are still favorable ranging from the low 40’s to low 50’s.

Protein averages being reported from 10.5 percent to 12 percent, with overall average at 11.0 percent to 11.2 percent%.

These locations reporting 60 percent complete.

Altus/ Roosevelt/ Lone Wolf/Hobart - Wheat harvest in this region has been slowed by rains and high humidity days early in the week, but in most of these locations harvest got rolling again yesterday.

Test weights have dropped slightly this week but this region still holding 61lb. to 62lb. test weight averages depending on location.

Yields reported as ranging from the low 40’s to mid 50’s.

Some higher intensively managed wheat making in the low 60’s to low 70’s.

Proteins in the region ranging from 9 percent to 14 percent. Protein average for the region coming in at 11.5 percent.

These locations reporting 30 to 35 percent complete.

Apache- Harvest has been slower to start in this region with the on and off rains the past two weeks. Before the rains test weights were 61lbs. to 63lbs. per bushel.

Test weights have dropped some but certain varieties are proving to hold up better.

Yields being reported making low 40’s to low 50’s. Some highly intensive managers reporting yields in the 60’s to 70’s at this location, which tends to always be a bright spot for production.

Early protein reports show an average of 11.2 percent to 11.5 percent.

This area is 7 percent complete.

Cordell-Harvest got started again late yesterday afternoon in this area. Test weights have dropped slightly with the rains this past week and are ranging from 59lbs. to 61lbs. per bushel.

Many varieties are still holding up well even with the rains.

Yields ranging from the mid 40’s to mid 50’s.

Proteins in this area are averaging 12 percent.

This location is reporting 15 to 20 complete.

Central Oklahoma

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 percent to 13.5 percent.

Right now it is looking like an 11.0 percent to 11.2 percent average for the region.

Harvest in the Kingfisher locations reported at 20 percent complete.

Rains in the Omega/ Loyal and Reeding areas hindered progress and are 10 percent complete.

Northern Oklahoma

Kremlin/ Hunter/ Lamont- Early cuttings showing test weight ranging from 60lbs. to 62 lbs. per bushel as producers got into fields late yesterday in this area.

Yields ranging in the low 40’s to low 50’s on early cuttings.

Early reports on protein showing an 11.5 percent to 12 percent average.

These locations reporting less than 5 percent complete.