Courtesy Oklahoma Wheat Commission

Oklahoma Wheat harvest continues to move forward with producers facing challenges from Mother Nature, with continued rains in North Central and Panhandle regions of Oklahoma. Since our last report, producers were fighting mud within fields from rains received last Wednesday and Thursday. Combines got moving again in parts of North Central Oklahoma and the Panhandle yesterday; but,  have been hindered by rains again late last night in the Panhandle regions out by Hooker and Guymon, and now late this afternoon in North Central Oklahoma.  Since last week Oklahoma completion towards harvest has made slight progress moving from 85% complete to now 92% complete. In the Northern regions, producers in Garfield, Major, Alfalfa, Woodward, Woods, Ellis, counties are mostly finished, with the majority of wheat that is left to cut being in Grant, Kay and Noble counties.  In the Panhandle regions producers are pretty well finished in Harper, Beaver and Cimmaron counties.  Approximately 25% to 30% of the crop mostly now being irrigated wheat, is still in the field in Texas county around Goodwell, Guymon and Hooker.  We have now seen a decline on test weights within the crop on the last remaining 15% to be harvested across the state. Test weights on wheat being taken in this past week now is ranging from 54 lbs./bu. to 60 lbs./bu., mainly in the northern regions of Oklahoma.  In the Panhandle we have had slight declines on test weight but they are maintaining a better position on irrigated wheat still coming in at mostly 60 lbs./bu. or slightly above.  While test weights have declined on the last of what is remaining in Oklahoma wheat fields, most likely this will have little impact on overall statewide test weight averages. Oklahoma had exceptionally high-test weights for most of this season so the Oklahoma crop average statewide will still come in at 60 lbs./bu. or above. Yields are still being reported as favorable ranging from the mid 40’s to mid 60’s for the most part across Northern Oklahoma. Producers with intensive management plans reporting yields in the mid 70’s to mid 80’s. In the Panhandle yields on the dryland wheat ranging from 15 to 50 bushels per acre depending on management and location.  On the irrigated wheat in the Panhandle yields are reported from 70 bushels to 110 bushels per acre. Protein reports are varying across the state with higher protein averages noted overall in Southwest, Oklahoma, ranging from 11.0% to 11.4%.  In Central Oklahoma, protein averages are ranging from 10.5% to 11.1%.  Protein reports across Northern, Oklahoma are ranging across the board from 10.1% to 11.9%.  In the Panhandle region, proteins are being reported higher including the irrigated wheat with a 12.5% average.  Currently we are calling the statewide average in Oklahoma for protein at 11.1%. 

We have been hearing reports of sprout damage now also occurring in some fields in northern Oklahoma on what is remaining in the field and what has been harvested this past week.   Sprout damage has ranged from 5% to 80% depending on field location, moisture levels and variety.  While this is becoming more of an issue for producers now in Northern Oklahoma, still the amount of wheat with sprout damage being reported will be minimal for our region based on the yields and test weights that have been reported from this harvest.  In many instances producers harvesting sprout damaged wheat will now be utilizing markets that will be moving this product into feed grains or will choose to turn it in for crop insurance purposes depending on producer plans.

Below are regions where wheat was taken in prior to Wednesday July 7, at 5:00 p.m. CST.

Southern Oklahoma locations reporting to be 99% complete.

Central Oklahoma locations reporting to be 98% complete.

Northern Oklahoma locations reporting to be 92% complete.

Northeastern Oklahoma locations reporting 99% complete.

Oklahoma Panhandle locations reporting 85% complete.

Enclosed, see the 1 hour, 24-Hour and 7-day rainfall accumulation maps with the 7-day weather forecast for Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Wheat Commission will put a final crop report out with the date on that to be determined once the wheat harvest has been finally completed for our region.