Market News & Headlines >> Winter Wheat Harvest Finally starting

The U.S. HRW wheat harvest is slowly getting up and running in the southern Plains with drier weather there allowing some producers to get into the fields.

Early progress figures to remain slow with muddy conditions hampering fieldwork in many locations, but warm temperatures in the 80s and 90s will help dry things out over the next week.

In its first 2015 harvest report, issued on Monday, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission said winter wheat harvest had begun in parts of southwest Oklahoma. Initial harvest results showed test weights of 56-59 pounds per bushel, but elevator mangers were expressed hope weights would get better once producers start getting into better wheat. The first harvest results were from wheat that was heavily grazed or had thinner stands in general, the Commission said.

Early crop moisture levels ranged from 9.9% to 14% with most at 11.0-11.5%. The wheat that has been brought in so far shows no sprout damage, the Commission said. Wheat was not fully ripe in all locations as of Monday, but “many managers from this Southwest region of the state feel the wheat in this area will be ready on Wednesday or Thursday afternoon” the commission said. 

USDA on Monday reported no measurable harvest progress for Oklahoma as of Sunday, compared to a pace of 5% a year earlier and the five-year average pace of 18%. In Texas, only 9% of the crop had been harvested versus a five-year average of 19%. Harvest is not due to start for another 7-10 days in the top winter wheat producing state of Kansas.