Wheat harvest is in full swing across much of southern and central Kansas.
That's the word from the Kansas Wheat Commission as wheat harvest continues. Wheat streak mosaic virus continues to challenge growers in parts of the state, impacting yields and test weights. After rains and humidity have slowed harvest progress, farmers are getting back into fields but still dodging muddy areas.
According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Kansas wheat harvest is only 20 percent complete, well behind 49 percent complete last year and behind 31 percent on average. Winter wheat conditions were rated 23 percent poor to very poor, 32 percent fair and 45 percent good to excellent.
Kansas Wheat's Hannah Blodgett says Olson Farms in central Kansas began harvest on June 12th.
Some disease pressure and weather have presented challenges in central Kansas, but some wheat varieties including KS Mako and KS Providence took the wheat streak very well according to producers.
