A lot of progress was made for wheat harvest the past couple of weeks in Nebraska. USDA reported that harvest was 50% complete in the state as of July 15.

This past fall, producers planted 920,000 acres of wheat, although only 850,000 are expected to be harvested. USDA predicts Nebraska’s wheat crop production to reach 40.8 million bushels, which is a 26% decrease from the 2019 crop.

Producers along the southern border of the state report that harvest is near complete in almost all areas. Throughout the region, farmers harvested wheat with yields anywhere between 15 to 80 bushels. Test weights ranged from 55 to 64 pounds, and protein content was between 9% to 14%.

The hot, dry and windy days played a large role in the development of the crop throughout this summer, causing some shrinkage in kernel size and an overall lack of moisture needed for good growth. The drought stress seemed to boost protein content in some areas of the state, although dockage due to low test weights will offset premiums from protein.

Wheat harvest in the southern Panhandle is swiftly moving along with an estimated 50% of the crop being harvested as of last week. Farmers in the region are bringing in average yields of 45 bushels an acre, with the test weights between 60 to 62 pounds and protein averaging 11%.

Unfortunately, the region saw an immense amount of wheat stem sawfly damage this year. There have been reports of farmers having anywhere between 5 to 15 bushels per acre of wheat destroyed by the pest.

"The sawfly damage this year is the worst we have ever seen,” said Tyson Narjes, a wheat farmer near Sidney, Neb. Harvest is expected to wrap up in the Panhandle region this week.

The northern Panhandle is beginning to get its first taste of harvest this year as producers are gearing up to hit the fields. As of last week, the region had harvested about 20% of its crop with things really starting to gear up toward the end of last week.

Early numbers are looking good with test weights near 61 pounds and protein about 11%. With how fast harvest has been moving this year, the state should be wrapping up in the next couple of weeks.

The Nebraska Wheat Board administers the checkoff of 0.4% of net value of wheat marketed in Nebraska at the point of first sale. The board invests the funds in programs of international and domestic market development and improvement, policy development, research, promotion, and education.

Source: Nebraska Wheat Board, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.