It was a late start for the 2015 hard red winter wheat harvest in Oklahoma- as virtually no wheat was cut ahead of the first of June- due to record rains received in May. But, even with rains that shut down harvest at least a couple of times in most areas of the state- the Oklahoma wheat harvest is virtually done as July arrives. In fact, the July first wheat harvest report from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission will be their last report of the 2015 season.
As they released their final report, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays talked with Mike Schulte about some of the overall trends seen during June as the 2015 harvest unfolded from the Red River northward to the Kansas state line. Hays and Schulte's conversation can be heard by clicking on the LISTEN BAR at the bottom of this written report.
"Wheat harvest is drawing to a close in most locations throughout the state with producers and harvesters finishing up in most areas along the Oklahoma/Kansas border. In the Panhandle regions of the state, rains this past week in Cimarron and Beaver Counties, have hindered harvest in some locations. Most regions in the Panhandle are reporting harvest to be 60% to 70% complete.
"In the Panhandle region test weights and proteins are reported to be favorable in most regions averaging 59.9 lbs. per bushel. With proteins reported to be making anywhere from 12.5% to 13.5%. Yields on the dryland wheat have been reported all over the board in most locations ranging from the mid-teens to as high as 60 bushels per acre.
"In Northeast Oklahoma around the Afton and Miami areas harvest is also considered to be over 95% complete. In the Afton and Miami areas yields and test weights were much lower than anticipated because of the heavy rains that were received in Northeast Oklahoma over this past month. Test weights in this region were averaging 54 lbs. to 56 lbs. per bushel, with yields in most locations reported to be making in the low 20’s.
"In areas of South Central and Central Oklahoma several acres were not harvested because of low test weights and extremely low yields. In these areas where the wheat was not harvested, producers had to deal with extreme drought, then extreme amounts of rain while also having to deal with hail storms in these locations. This resulted in lower test weight and yield for the 2015 crop in this region.
"This harvest season has certainly been one for the record books as far as windows of opportunity to get the crop out. In many cases producers and custom harvesters struggled with mud in all locations. While all producers in all regions of the state have been thankful for the moisture, in some locations excess amounts of rain hindered crop yield and test weights. The statewide average precipitation total as measured by the Oklahoma Mesonet in June, was 5.04 inches, 0.52 inches above normal and the 33rd wettest June since records began in 1895. That total would not accurately describe the precipitation pattern across the state. South central Oklahoma had an average of 10.13 inches, 5.40 inches above normal to rank as its third wettest June on record.
"Overall quality reports from the Oklahoma crop indicate that test weights will be lower than expected with hopes for an overall average in the state of 56 lbs. to 57 lbs. per bushel. Protein averages for the state are reported to be slightly above 12%. Yields throughout the state in all locations have ranged all over the board. Yields reported for the most part have been in the low 20’s to the mid 30’s. Producers with better management practices that also had better weather reported yields as high as 60 bushels per acre in some locations. It was remarkable that we did not have the sprout damage reported, that most producers and elevators were concerned about at the beginning of the season. In some instances minor sprout damage was reported in areas of Southern and Central Oklahoma, however considering the moisture amounts received in most locations sprouted wheat was minimal.
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