Kansas wheat harvest is 28% complete as of a USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service crop progress report covering the period ending June 14, placing progress well ahead of last year, NewsRadio 1150 KSAL reports. The same report shows winter wheat conditions still skew negative: 25% very poor, 32% poor, 29% fair, 14% good, and 0% excellent.
Producers interviewed for the update described uneven results across the state. At an Ellsworth County co-op location in Kanopolis, wheat that benefited from a timely rain in some areas is reportedly yielding better than early expectations. Still, damage from drought and hail remains a concern, and grain quality can vary by field; one first load cited a test weight of 63.2 with 12.7 protein.
In Rush County, a farmer said some areas that avoided the worst impacts are producing better outcomes, while hail and flooded fields have hurt others. Toward the west, Garden City COOP’s vice president of grain said the co-op took in its first load on June 6, with harvest picking up in the last few days; she estimated local progress at 25% complete and described quality as better than expected in that region.
The KSAL Harvest Fest is also underway, with stops planned Tuesday at the Agri Trails COOP in Gypsum (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and at the Agri Trails COOP in Hollyrood (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.), featuring live broadcasting and distribution of cold drinks and pizza.