Wet weather slowing area harvest

Staff Report
The wheat harvest in Oklahoma has been underway for nearly two weeks and as of Monday about 60% complete, according to the Oklahoma Wheat Commission.
A spokesperson at Two Rivers Coop in Newkirk on Monday said progress has been slower with the area harvest not going full speed. The wheat commission stated that farmers in northern Oklahoma have been slower to get into the fields because of recent rains, with parts of Kay County about 30% done.
Newkirk had received a majority of its nearly 12-inches of rainfall this year in the past 60 days.
The wheat commission crop report as of June 8 was 1% excellent; 8% good; 29% fair; 33% poor; and 29% very poor. Statewide, harvest is 60% complete. Most of the remaining harvest is north of Highway 412. Active areas include: Ringling, Ponca City, Blackwell, and Braman.
The commission reported higher yields in the mid 30s to mid 50s bushel per acre for areas along the Kansas border. Afton and Miami are moisture-delayed. Their harvest area is only 10% complete.
The commission stated that test weights are averaging 58-59 lbs statewide.
For producers in the field, the commission said, the impact of an unusually warm spring had an effect on accelerating the crop and forced the wheat to put heads out early.
Southern and Central Oklahoma were reporting yields running low and averaging between 15 to 25 bushels per acre.
North of Highway 51, which traverses across the middle of the state, early cut wheat was showing stronger potential with yields ranging from the mid 30s to the mid 50s.