The wheat harvest has finally taken off in Kingfisher County after a rain-stymied start.

In fact, this year’s wheat crop has been one to remember, beginning with problems in getting the seed in the ground at the normal time, due to drought issues, then seeing the crop appear at the point of failure due to dry weather before sufficient March rains revived it.

After the crop became promising and near ready for harvest, additional heavy rain soaked fields and prevented harvest when the crop was at its optimum point.

However, skies have cleared in recent days and county grain elevators were busy over the weekend taking in the harvest. The wheat quality continued to hold up better than expected.

No additional weekend rain and strong breezes aided local harvesters by drying the ground but some fields were still presenting harvesting problems.

KyleSchroderatOkarche CHS Elevator said Monday that mud is still a problem after recent downpours but he wasn’t hearing as many stuck combine reports Monday as earlier.

Better than might-havebeen expected wheat quality boosted spirits.

Elevator operators said little to no sprout damage had been found thus far and test weights while down a little were still doing okay with some still in the 60-pound range.

The Oklahoma Wheat Commission’s report for this week estimated the state’s crop is 37% harvested, commenting: “The harvest continues with producers making great strides despite fighting mud in several locations across central and northern Oklahoma.

“Test weights across the state have dropped due to all the heavy rains last week, but statewide we are still looking at a 59 lb. per bushel average despite some lower test weights reported based on location and variety,” the report continued.

Yields across the state are being reported from the mid 30’s to mid 50’s for the most part.

Producers with management intensive plans have been reporting yields in the mid 60’s to low 80’s. Protein across the state is averaging 11.1%.

Due to several locations making great progress in parts of Southwest, Central, and North Central, OK the OWC is calling harvest 37% completed at the time of this report.

Local producers and combiners were eyeing the skies Monday hoping that showers predicted in some areas of the state would miss Kingfisher County.

No rain fell Tuesday night and the next possibility of rain is not forecast until next Tuesday.

Hennessey CHS elevator, which normally trails the rest of the county in starting harvest due to being further north, had some wheat arrive last week and over the weekend, a spokesperson reported.

Some harvesting began but others were still looking for dry ground, she said.

While test weights were down a little from the wheat cut first in the county, there were still some 60 pound reports.

“Some wheat is good; some okay,” she said.

Chris Townsley, CHS elevator manager in Kingfi sher, reported decent runs of wheat over the weekend with test weights down, but not drastically.

He estimated the Kingfi sher harvest at half over by Monday, or it would be by Tuesday if wheat continued to arrive at the same rate.

SchrodersaidtheOkarche CHS elevator wheat arrivals there continued to be pretty good overall, estimating the local harvest Monday in the 55 to 60% complete range.

Cashion Grain and Feed Elevator Manager John Schaefer estimated the harvest there at maybe 30-40% complete with expectations of an extended harvest with most growers harvesting their own fields (few custom cutters are used).

“The wheat is still good despite losing a little weight,” Schaefer said.

Okarche Grain and Feed Manager Ty Elwood esti- pounds to 62 pounds per bushel depending on variety and location. Yields being reported from the mid 40’s to mid 60’s, with even some higher yields on management intensive wheat. Protein ranging from 10.7% to 11.1%. This area being reported as 50 percent harvested. “Okarche/Piedmont – Producers making progress in this region but have really been fighting mud over the weekend which has hindered the ability for many to get back into fields. Test weights now averaging 59 pounds for the region. Yield averages reported in the mid-40’s with some management intensive wheat reported to be making in the mid-50’s to low 60’s. Protein is varying in this region, but east of Okarche into Piedmont region several higher proteins being reported above 12%. This region is 50 percent harvested. “ Kingfisher/ Omega/ Loyal/Reeding – Some lower test weights now coming in the region. The area still looking at 58 pounds per bushel to 59 pounds per bushel average for the region. Yields ranging in the mid-30’s to mid-50’s depending on management practices. Several producers have grazed heavily in this region which has impacted yield. Producers that did not graze heavily with management intensive plans reporting yields in the mid-50’s to mid-60’s. Proteins ranging from 10.5% to 11.2%. The Kingfisher region is 50 percent harvested, Omega location is 35% harvested, Loyal and Reeding locations are 30% completed.”

mated that area’s harvest at maybe 50% complete.

It’s (grain) still in good shape with no sprout damage and some weighing 60 pounds, Elwood said.

Eugene Roach, manager at CHS Elevator at Omega, said the turnaround in harvest activity over the weekend was welcome with completion close to half.

He said yields from 40 to 60 bushels per acre had been reported there.

Randall Varnell, manager of Wheeler Brothers Grain Elevator in Kingfisher estimated the Kingfisher area harvest at 50% to 60% complete by Tuesday, but said harvest at other company elevators in the Reeding, Omega and Loyal areas were a little behind that due to wetter fields.

“There have been many unusual harvests in the county and this is one of them,” he observed.

Comparing this harvest to last year, he estimated yields at a little less this year compared to last. But last year’s crop provided surprisingly good results after early problems.

Varnell said wheat quality has held up better than expected after all the rain and continued dry weather is expected to put the harvest on a downhill run to completion.

Oklahoma Wheat Commission attached these remarks about the Central Oklahoma harvest to this week’s harvest report: “Greenfield- Harvest in this region has made great progress on sandier ground over the weekend. Test weights ranging from 58.5