Heavy rains affect area wheat harvest

Local grain producers are just beginning to harvest wheat, and John Ross Reames at Reames Elevator has only been able to cut his own fields three days, and only parts of those days. 

“It’s barely dry enough,” Reames said. “Our wheat is weedy, and the test weight is light.”

Reames expects it will take about two weeks to finish harvesting.

“Others have told me they expect to start combining this week,” he said. “But I don’t think we’ll have much wheat combined in the area. Most people in the county who still plant wheat end up grazing it out.”

Reames did not yet know how many bushels per acre he or others in the county would harvest this year. Much of that will depend on how soon the weather will allow farmers to get into the fields. 

Rainfall at harvest time not only damages the wheat, making it weigh less per bushel, but it also encourages the growth of weeds, which also causes a decrease in the quality of the seed.

The Texas Wheat Producers Board reported on June 7 that producers in the Rolling Plains had expressed great concern over harvest, with many bushels lost every day due to heavy moisture.

According to the USDA production report released on June 10, less than one percent of the winter wheat in Texas had been harvested, although 99 percent was already headed.

Twenty-two percent of the Texas winter wheat considered to be in excellent condition, 46 percent in good condition, and 27 percent in fair condition on the week ending June 9.