Harvest update from Wheat Commission
Mark Hodges of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission sent this update earlier this week, and I followed up on it in a story published this morning.
Read Mark’s update then click on the link to my story for further information:
The 2008 Oklahoma wheat harvest continued over the weekend even as there are virtually no custom cutters left in the state. This means what wheat is left to be harvested is being done by producers with their own combines, neighbors helping neighbors, or those that have leased combines and are doing local custom work.
Even with fewer combines though we are now estimating Oklahoma to be in excess of 75 percent complete with this harvest. Areas still cutting where a significant acres remain to be harvested are along I – 40 (about 70 percent complete), just north of Enid (projected to be 65 percent complete), NE and E of Enid where combines are still having problems staying on top of the ground (MUD) is now projected at 15 percent complete and the Panhandle projected to be 50 percent complete at this point.
The Panhandle area as you move into Beaver County (eastern most county) is winding down with close to 90 percent of this harvest complete , Texas County (center county) is 50 percent complete with harvest and Cimarron County (western most county) is just now getting rolling with this harvest. Yields in the Panhandle are a stark contrast to last year as dryland wheat as you move from Beaver County west is almost none existent with most yield reports being from in the teens to abandonment. Irrigated acres are also a sharp contrast in yields as they are being reported from 50 bushels to the acre and down (normal irrigated yields would be pushing 100 bushels per acre).
Last week the Oklahoma Mesonet was reporting the 365 day precipitation totals (June 18 reference), as ranging in the center Panhandle 6.4 inches to almost 60 inches in the areas of NE Oklahoma we are now trying to get harvested. Over the last 45 days there are some areas in the NE wheat producing areas with wheat yet to be cut that have received over 15 inches of rain.
I followed up on the customer cutter issue, and you can find it here.
Business Writer
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