This is Day 15 of the 2013 Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas City Board of Trade, the Kansas Grain & Feed Association, the Kansas Wheat Commission and Kansas Association of Wheat Growers.
Reports from western Kansas continue to show disappointing yields for those farmers, as the 2013 wheat harvest enters its final days.
Jason Ochs, Kansas Wheat Commissioner from Syracuse, says many farmers did not even put combines in the field due to the promise of very poor yields, and many area farmers say these were the worst conditions they had ever seen. The majority of wheat in Hamilton County was abandoned due to drought and freeze; Ochs had yields ranging from 5 to 21 bushels per acre on his farm, although most of it was between 10 and 15 bushels per acre. Ochs grows all white wheat; he said those varieties yielded good quality, with test weights averaging 63 pounds per bushel.
Farmers in the Ellis area averaged between 30 and 35 bushels per acre, according to Roxy Solomon at the Golden Belt Coop Association in Ellis. Yields ranged from the teens to 50 bushels per acre; test weight averaged 59.5 pounds and proteins averaged about 12.5. Solomon says the elevator took in just two-thirds the grain of last year's poor crop; many acres were abandoned due to drought and freeze, and hailstorms hit many area farms.
Art Koster at the Winona Feed and Grain, says harvest is wrapping up in northern Logan County. Yields range from 5 to 25 bushels per acre, test weights average 60 pounds per bushel, and protein ranging from10-15%. Koster says much of the area's wheat crop was abandoned, and he will take in only about 30% of a normal harvest. This is the worst wheat crop he has seen since 1981, when the wheat crop was destroyed by a freeze in early May.
The outlook is brighter in Stafford County, where Stafford County Flour Mills took in more than 2.4 million bushels from their three locations. Crop quality was excellent, according to assistant manager Derek Foote; test weight averaged 60 pounds per bushel and protein averaged 13%. Yields ranged from 30 to 50 bushels per acre in the region, which was better than most farmers expected. For more than 100 years, Stafford County Flour Mills has produced Hudson Cream Flour products.
The 2013 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and sponsors Kansas City Board of Trade, and the Kansas Grain & Feed Association.
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Horton City Clerk's resignation accepted Monday
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Former Kickapoo Tribal chairman arrested
Winchester native named as Amberwell CEO
Holton property search concludes with arrest
Severe storms move through NE KS
Mayetta pair arrested on meth, child endangerment charges
Rural Horton man charged in alleged beating
Juveniles face charges following Atchison break-in
Atchison Co's Oswald named honorary bailiff for KS Court
Walnut Township recall coming; Friday mtg erupts in arrest
No injuries in early Sunday morning house fire in Falls City
McLouth man injured in Monday wreck
KS prepares for severe weekend weather
Senator Slama on tax relief efforts
Former AG Schmidt running for KS' 2nd Congressional District
Commission approves agreement for budget help
LATEST STORIES
Walnut Township recall coming; Friday mtg erupts in arrest
Nemaha NRD honoring Stewardship Week
Richardson County Deputies busy during special enforcement
Peru State faculty member to be honored
Nebraska Primary Election reminders
Severe storms move through NE KS
NVCH receives $415,000 grant for expansion project
KS prepares for severe weekend weather