Wheat harvest is progressing in Barton County, and combines are in the fields. Drought combined with late freezes have made this an uncertain year for farmers, but some are having a very good year.
The Great Bend Co Op reports harvest is 30 to 40 percent complete.
“Wheat harvest is moving along well with reports of yields and quality better than expected,” according to an email from the Great Bend Co Op.  “We are hearing of yields in the three to five bushel per acre but we are also hearing of 40 to 70 bushel yields.
“The protein samples we have run are from 11-19 percent with the average in the 13 percent range,” said the email. “The neighboring co ops that I have talked to, are seeing some of the same protein levels.”
The Great Bend Co Op, which includes Pawnee Rock, Albert, Radium, Seward, Great Bend, Ellinwood and Boyd have taken in 1,279,892.93 bushes with an average test weight of 58.87 and an average moisture of 11.02.
Near Hoisington, Mary Anne Stoskopf said, “It’s about what we expected. Some fields are not so great. Some are better than expected. It’s a mixed bag.”
She said that they began cutting after lunch on Friday and have run non stop since then.
The Beaver Co Op in Claflin reports that harvest is going a bit slow. They said test weights are good and the wheat is dry.
“A lot of people are saying its better than they thought,” said Alicia Boor, Barton County Extension Agent. “(Harvest) seems to be going well along.”