This year's wheat harvest is now in full swing across the area.

 

According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Kansas wheat harvest is now 5 percent complete, ahead of 1 percent complete last year. Harvest is even further along in Oklahoma where 48 percent of the crop has been harvested well ahead of last year's 24 percent and the five-year average of 17 percent.

 

In Kansas, winter wheat conditions were rated at 33 percent very poor to poor, 35 percent fair and 32 percent good to excellent. Conditions in Oklahoma appear better, with 16 percent very poor to poor, 27 percent fair, and 57 percent good to excellent.

 

According to the Kansas Wheat Commission's report from southcentral Kansas along the state line, proteins are variable from field to field, ranging anywhere from 9.5 percent up to 14.5 percent. Moisture is dry and test weights are well above 60 pounds per bushel with several loads above 62 pounds per bushel so far. Most of the early wheat is going straight into area elevator bins to fill up space left empty from previous lean harvests.