Wheat harvest trickled into the southern border of Kansas earlier this week while making its way through an extended season in Texas and Oklahoma, according to the 2016 Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports.
Frank Riedl, general manager of the Great Bend Coop, said he expects cutting in this part of the state will begin by the middle of next week.
“We’ve got room; we should be ready for it,” he said.
Daily reports for 2016 began this week, courtesy of the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Grain and Feed Association.
Here is a summary of the first three days:

Day One, Tuesday
Rains are continuing to delay harvest in Texas, but combines are beginning to start rolling. Oklahoma is reporting good yields and outstanding test weights, a trend that farmers are hoping will continue in Kansas.
In comparison to last year, the 2016 harvest season came much earlier in June for Kansas farmers. Last year’s late season rains boosted yields, but kept combines in sheds across the state until later in June. This season, gentle rains have made for good grain fill and kept combines out of the fields until this weekend’s dry weather. Although 2016’s yields will likely be higher statewide, a decline in planted acreage will hinder the final bushel count. The latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service harvest estimate is 352.6 million bushels statewide, an increase from 321.9 million bushels last year.
Harvest got its start this year in the Arkansas City area, and farmers in Kiowa County weren’t far behind.

Day Two, Wednesday
Social media is abuzz under #wheatharvest16 with sightings of cut fields and rolling combines in distant locations. Some have spotted a lone field near Galva already harvested; others have seen the headers turning in remote south eastern Kansas acres.
Dan Cashier, general manager at the Anthony Farmers Coop branch in Anthony, reports that all AFC locations are open. Test weights are holding at 61-63 pounds per bushel. Cashier is thankful that so far farmers are seeing around a 45-50 bushel per acre yield. This is a far cry from the drought-stricken last two or three years where Anthony farmers would see anywhere from 5-20 bushels per acre.
“Our five year average is definitely skewed,” said Cashier. “We’ve had some rough years recently, but this year’s crop is shaping up to be above average.”
Warm winds over the last few days have started to dry out fields near Anthony, so the plants that aren’t ready to harvest yet will be drying out soon. So far he has noted a 12-13 percent moisture range.
Rob Johnston, manager of the Farmers Coop Grain Co. in Caldwell, said that his branch took in their first load of wheat last Friday. There have been a few truckloads brought in every day since.
“Right now farmers seem to be focused on getting everything up and running smoothly before they get started,” said Johnston.
Test weights have been “very good” so far and have ranged around 62-63 pounds per bushel. Johnston was quick to point out that this is “very clean wheat,” especially in comparison to recent years.

Day three, Thursday
Combines continue to roll in south central Kansas as the hot summer sun is just starting to warm up.
Aaron Schreiner, representative of the Anthony Farmers Coop in Sharon, said that test weights have held a solid 62-63 pounds per bushel with every load that has come across the scales. The Sharon branch received its first load of wheat on Tuesday. While it’s still too early for a protein content and fair yield estimates, Schreiner says, “the wheat looks good.”
Tom Morton, who farms near Oxford, reports that harvest is in full swing in Sumner County. He started harvesting on Wednesday, and reports that he has some good wheat and some mediocre wheat, but quality and yields look better than expected, with test weights of 60 pounds plus per bushel. Morton attributed that to the cool weather during grain fill.
Harvest has gotten off to a slow start in Argonia, reported Aaron Hemberger, representative of the Danville Coop Association. He reported that test weights are averaging a little over 60 pounds per bushel.

The 2016 Harvest Report is brought to you by Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and Kansas Grain and Feed Association.