Harvest Makes Minor Strides Over the Past Weekend

By: The Oklahoma Wheat Commission

Oklahoma wheat harvest moved at an extremely slow pace over the weekend in most regions due to continued rains and high humidity.  We had a few locations take in large amounts in the Central part of the state late Saturday afternoon.  The wheat across the state is ready in most all regions, but rainfall is keeping producers from making progress. We had some small amounts taken in as far North as Shattuck, and have heard test cutting on dryland wheat in the Panhandle, but no reports on what was harvested in the Panhandle out by Hooker. If it turns dry it is thought dryland wheat harvest in the Panhandle will get a good start either the middle of this week or by late week.  In the Northeast part of the state over by Afton and Miami the wheat will most likely be ready by the end of the week, once things dry out.  The Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling wheat harvest for the state 21% complete.

Southwest and Western Oklahoma

Grandfield/Chattanooga/Lawton-  Wheat harvest made some progress in this region before the weekend, but heavy rains delayed much greater progress from being made from previous reports. Yields ranging from the low 40’s to low 50’s. Heavily grazed wheat having the lower yields in the high 20’s to low 30’s.  It has been noted some intensively managed fields have been yielding 50, with a few yields in the lower 70’s being reported.  Test weights ranging from 60lbs. to 65lbs. per bushel with an occasional 59 lb. test weight now being reported.   Protein averages being reported from 10.5% to 12%, with the overall average being around 11.0% to 11.2%.  These locations reporting 50 to 60 percent complete.

Altus/Roosevelt/Lone Wolf/Hobart- Wheat harvest in this region has been slowed by rains and high humidity days.  Some places around Altus received 2 to 3 inches of moisture over the weekend.  Test weights on wheat cuttings prior to the rains this weekend were 61 plus for the area. 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% to 14%.  Protein average for the region coming in at 11.5%.  These locations reporting 25 percent complete.

Sentinel/Rocky-Producers had a good start last weekend but high humidity days and moisture over the past week have hindered much progress from being made. Test weights ranging from 60 to 62 lbs. per bushel.  Yields being reported from 30 bushels to mid 50’s.  The lower yields are on heavily grazed fields.  Some higher yields are expected once producers start getting into better wheat.  Proteins in this region have been favorable ranging from 12% to 15%.  They are calling the average in this region at 13%.  These locations reporting 5 percent complete.

Central Oklahoma

Okarche/Piedmont- Producers struggled with high humidity days and small amounts of moisture this past week.  A large amount of wheat was taken in at these locations on Saturday afternoon/evening. Test weights reported at 60 plus on what was taken in before the rains this morning.  Protein reports on early cuttings ranging all over the board from 9% to 13.5%. Right now it looks like the region is averaging 11.5%. Proteins are extremely favorable in the Eastern part of this region.  Yields are being reported from the mid 40’s to mid 50’s, with some higher yields being reported in the mid 60’s to low 70’s on fields with intensive management.  These locations reporting 25 to 30 percent complete

Reeding/Kingfisher/Omega/Okeene- Test weights ranging from 61 lbs. to 65 lbs. per bushel, on wheat taken in before the rains this morning.  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% to 13.5%. Right now it is looking like an 11.0% to 11.2% average for the region.  Harvest in the Reeding/Kingfisher locations reported at 15 to 25 percent complete, in the Omega/Okeene regions reported at less than 5 percent complete.

Northern Oklahoma

Medford/Pond Creek/Ponca City/Blackwell- Early cuttings showing test weight ranging from 60lbs. to 62 lbs. per bushel before the rains this morning.  Yields ranging in the low 40’s to low 50’s on early cuttings. No protein on early cuttings reported at this time. These locations reporting less than 5 percent complete.

Burlington- Nothing has been taken in at this location as of today. Rains will most likely delay harvest until late in the week, if it does start to dry out.  It is thought custom harvesters will start to arrive later this week.

Shattuck- Some small amounts were taken in over the weekend.  Test weights on what was received had a 61lb. per bushel average. Protein average on early loads at 11.2%.  No yields on early cuttings reported, but a lot of wheat in this area planned to make around 20 to 25 bushels per acre due to the long period of drought up until this point.  Heavy rains today will hinder much progress until late in the week if it does start to dry out.

Camargo/Fort Supply- Nothing has been taken in at these locations as of today.

Panhandle of Oklahoma

Hooker- Some test cutting took place over the weekend in parts of Texas County but nothing has been reported on what was harvested.  It is thought that dryland harvest will begin in the middle or by the end of the week depending on if it rains or not.

Northeast Oklahoma

Afton/Miami- No wheat has been taken in at these locations as of today.  The wheat would be ready to harvest on early varieties, but more rainfall is predicted over the next two days for this region, so producers are hopeful to get into the fields this coming weekend or early next week.

General Report

Reports in all locations show test weights ranging from 60 to 65 lbs. per bushel for the most part.  We have some regions now reporting an occasional 59 lb. test weight in parts of South Central Oklahoma. These numbers are reported on what was hauled in before the rains that came across the state this morning. Proteins ranging from 9% to 13.5%, with an overall average of proteins being reported at 11.0% to 11.2%. We are hearing reports of higher proteins in parts of Central Oklahoma, that hopefully will help with the overall state-wide averages. Early yields being reported at 40 to 50 bushels per acre in most regions.  Higher yields being reported on intensively managed wheat with some yields on a few fields being reported in the mid 60’s to low 70’s.  It is thought that in parts of Northwest Oklahoma the wheat in some areas has recovered however we are hearing predictions that we will see a lot of 25 bushel wheat in far regions of Northwest Oklahoma. Also some areas of the Panhandle that received timely moisture will have some good dryland wheat, but several areas will not be harvested on the dryland. The Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling the state 21% complete with harvest.  The next Oklahoma Wheat Commission Harvest report will be published on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

Below, see the 6-10 day temperature outlook and storm potential outlook for this evening and Tuesday provided by the Oklahoma Mesonet.

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About Amanda De Oliveira Silva

I have served as an Assistant Professor and Small Grains Extension Specialist at Oklahoma State University since August 2019. I believe that close interaction with producers is vital to understand their production strategies and to establish realistic research goals. My program focuses on developing science-based information to improve the agronomic and economic viability of small grains production in Oklahoma and in the Southern Great Plains.

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