It might be a tad early, but by first report, Barton County’s winter wheat is looking good.

Dakota Benear, vice president of grain at the American Plains Coop main office in Great Bend, reported Friday morning that they received their first test cut Thursday from David LeRoy, who farms near Albert.

“It was a good test – moisture was in a good range and it had good protein,” Benear said. “We don’t have much on yields yet, but it looks like the wheat might be ready to cut.”

According to the National Weather Service on Friday, Barton County was still in the fringe area for severe drought conditions, but the drought has been easing over the past two months in northern and eastern Kansas. Precipitation in May was generally below average, but some areas of the state have had above-average rainfall.

Last year’s harvest picked up after a slow start, with about 20% of the state reporting completion by July 1, compared to 54% the year before, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Last year’s wheat harvesters were expressing disappointment related to drought conditions in the western half of the state, leading to low yields and abandoned acreage.

Barton County had abandonment reports of up to 90% in some fields because of extreme drought conditions, as fields in the northern part of the county went a whole year without an inch of precipitation.