Farm Progress

Fields missed by hail and disease do well.

Bob Burgdorfer, Senior Editor

July 7, 2017

3 Min Read
prudkov/ThinkstockPhotos

Custom wheat harvesters in western Kansas and eastern Colorado found better-than-expected yields and grain quality this past week on fields that escaped disease or a June hail storm.

There were still plenty of fields hurt by the weather or disease, but those that were missed yielded 40 to 70 bushels an acre with test weights of 60 pounds a bushel or more. In addition, a number of harvesters reported protein levels of 12% or higher.

“They have a good crop here with 70-plus yields. The protein is good 11.5 to 13.5,” said harvester Shorty Kulhanek, who was cutting near Colby in northwest Kansas. “They didn’t get the big snow that the others got.”

A late April snowstorm hit western Kansas and laid much of the wheat down. Harvesters said some of that wheat recovered and is producing better –than-expected yields. Also, a hail storm a few weeks ago in eastern Colorado and in northwest Kansas damaged a number of fields.

“The wheat is above expectations. It is probably running in the 40- to 60-bushel range,” said harvester Chad Brink, who was cutting near Dighton in western Kansas.

Not all of the crop news was good. Many areas in Kansas were infested with wheat streak mosaic.

“Wheat streak mosaic is a huge issue here. It just wiped some fields right out,” said Brink.

Related:Wheat Harvest 2017 – Kansas yields: good, bad and none

Harvesters in eastern Colorado also reported better-than-expected yields and grain quality.

“Cheyenne Wells has a pretty good crop. There is a lot of variation on protein, there is a lot of 11% and some 12%,” said harvester Mike Strunk. “For the most part it is pretty good.”

Further west and closer to Denver, disease or weather reduced yields, said Strunk.

As of July 2, USDA said 73% of the Kansas wheat was harvested versus the72% average and it rated the crop 47% good to excellent, compared with 66% a year ago. Colorado wheat was 13% harvested versus the 25% average and was rated 42% good/excellent versus 66% a year ago.

Slow wheat sales

Farmers have been reluctant to sell their wheat despite the recent sharp rise in wheat prices.

“I think for the most part, the farmers are holding on to it,” said Brink. ”They think prices will go higher with the fewer acres and not good crops in Nebraska and the Dakotas.”

A common complaint from the harvesters was the fewer wheat acres this year. Farmers either planted less wheat or plowed up poor emerging fields and replanted them to corn or other crops.

“There are a lot more corn and soybeans,” said Irvin Odegard, who was harvesting in eastern Colorado.

USDA on June 30 said Kansas farmers planted 7.5 million acres of wheat versus 8.5 million in 2016 and should harvest 6.9 million versus last year’s 8.9 million. Colorado planted 2.31 million versus 2.36 million last year and should harvest 2.01 million versus 2.2 million.

Related:Wheat Harvest 2017 – Low yields, fewer acres in southern Plains

Kansas wheat is forecast by USDA to average 44 bushels an acre versus last year’s 57. Statewide production is expected at 303.6 million compared with 2016’s 467.4 million. Colorado’s yield is forecast at 40 bushels versus 48 a year ago with production at 78 million bushels versus 2016’s 105.1 million.

 

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