6/17/2021: The 2021 HRW wheat harvest is now picking up speed as hot temperatures, wind and lower humidity prevails across most of the southern and central Great Plains. Very good yields (generally 40 bu/ac (2.69 tons/ha) to 60 bu/ac (4.0 tons/ha) and test weights (most areas above 60 lbs./bu (78.9 kg/hl) to as high as 65 lbs./bu (85.4 kg/hl) continue to be reported across much of the region. The exceptions have been those areas in central Texas that received 6” to 8” (15 to 20 cm) after the crop matured affecting test weight and final yield.
The Texas HRW wheat crop is now 38% harvested, those acres are predominately in southern and central part of the state. Harvested acres remain behind the 5-year average of 55% by this date with progress starting to pick up as cloudy cool and rainy conditions have given way to sunshine and temperatures in the mid to upper 90’s.
Oklahoma, (now 19% complete with harvest) is also still significantly behind the 5-year average of 41% harvested by this date and continues across from the Oklahoma/Texas border to the Oklahoma/Kansas border. Oklahoma is reporting very good yields and test weights with wide ranges of protein generally 10.5% to 11.5%.
Kansas, (now 7% complete with harvest) and while behind the 5-year average of 7% by this date is closer to normal than Oklahoma and Texas. Yield, test weight and protein are much like those being reported in Oklahoma. Kansas has had much higher temperatures than Oklahoma or Texas recently with a heat advisory in affect through Thursday evening, June 17th for northern Kansas and southern Nebraska.
On a positive note, harvest weather continues to prevail in almost all areas of the southern and central Great Plains where harvest has begun. The first samples of the 2021 HRW crop are expected to arrive in the lab today.