The 2019 HRW wheat crop is finally seeing “harvest weather” in the central and southern Great Plains (sunshine, warm temperatures, lower humidity and fewer rain events). These conditions have allowed harvest to move much more quickly in Texas (now 61% complete with harvest mostly southern, central and northern except northwest), Oklahoma (now 68% complete with harvest and Kansas (now 14% complete with harvest). Texas is now starting harvest in the northwest parts of that state as are the extreme northwestern parts of Oklahoma. Both those areas generally have later harvest dates due to higher elevation. Kansas cutting has picked up speed, but has still been plagued with rain, high humidity and seasonably lower temperatures particularly in the central and eastern corridors of the state. Harvest in parts of southwest Kansas has begun.
A total 103 samples are now in the lab and in various stages of analysis. Those 103 samples represent a geographical area ranging from central Texas, across the Oklahoma and into extreme southern Kansas. Test weigh average of those samples was 59.4 lbs/bu. (78.2 kg/hl), 0.4% dockage, total defects of 1.6% and an average protein content of 11.3%. The effect of the additional samples decreased the overall average test weigh by 0.3 lb/bu (0.4 kg/hl), increased the overall average of total defects by 0.2% and increased the overall protein by 0.4%. Protein in the crop tended to increase in the crop as harvest moved into the northern half of Oklahoma and is now 11.3% overall. As was pointed out last week regarding kernel characteristics on the first 40 samples, average TKW 33.0 grams (higher than test weight would have indicated and good news for millers concerning potential extraction). This is in addition to an average kernel diameter is 2.70 mm, very good and another indicator of extraction. However, the average SKCS hardness on the first 40 samples is low for HRW at 55, but not total unexpected considering the cool temperatures and high humidity during the final stages of crop development and dry down. Early sprout testing indicated only 1 sample with damage (first 40 samples).
| Tst | Exp | MST | Pro% | DKG | TKW | FN | Grade | Test | Weight | FM | DMG | S&B | DEF |
| 103 | 500 | 12.2 | 11.3 | 0.4 | 33.0 | 408 | 2HRW | 59.4 | 78.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| FINAL | 2018 | ||||||||||||
| 488 | final | 12.3 | 11.4 | 0.6 | 31.8 | 367 | 1HRW | 60.8 | 80.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 |