Rain, rain, go away

Hard rains have plagued much of the wheat belt, causing stalls on the harvest front.

Texas – Parts of Texas received up to 10 inches of rain, specifically in the eastern and northern areas. Wheat is still turning color, and harvest is still in full swing. In the High Plains the wheat continues to turn color, while the Low Plains, the Cross Timbers and the Edwards Plateau remain busy with harvest  progressing.  Across the state wheat conditions were mostly fair to good.

Colorado –  Dry conditions and temperatures much higher than normal are a positive boost to the developing wheat crop. Thunderstorms did pop up along the Front Range and Eastern Plains; hail and wind were blamed for some damage to crops in those areas. Winter wheat is 98 percent headed and 14 percent was beginning to turn color, although warm, dry air pushed development this week the crop is still estimated at a week behind schedule. The crop rating stayed mostly in good condition.  Spring wheat is 30 percent headed, ahead of the average, and 11 percent is rated fair to good condition.

Oklahoma – This week may have started out wet, but last week across Oklahoma temperatures soared into the upper 90s. Thirty-eight percent of Oklahoma wheat has been harvested, a 28-point increase since just last week. The increase is attributed to the aggressive harvest that took place when conditions were ideal.

Nebraska – Wheat farmers, and farmers in general, are desperate for dry conditions as rain fell across the Cornhusker State. Wheat conditions were rated fair to good, with 86 percent headed, and 14 percent has completed the color turn, about six days behind average.

South Dakota – Spring wheat is not 64 percent booted, ahead of previous years. Winter wheat, however, continues to develop and is reported at 80 percent headed – above the five year average of 72 percent.

Kansas – Harvest started, and then was delayed in southern portions of the state as wind and heavy rains swept across the plains. Winter wheat is turning color and 76 percent complete, ahead of last year, but still behind the five-year average. Warm weather prior to the rains helped push 27 percent of the crop to mature. Only one percent has been harvested, and the crop is still rated fair to good, with only nine percent excellent. Disease infestation is still a concern with 29 percent of the wheat crop reporting light infestation. Stripe rust and leaf rust are still primary concerns.

Missouri – At 98 percent headed, Missouri wheat is running about a week behind the normal schedule. Seventy-nine percent has turned color, a 12-point increase since last week; the northern region of the state, however, reports 80 percent as headed and only 28 percent turning color. Harvest is 10 percent completed, most in the Bootheel. The condition was reported 24 percent poor, 35 percent fair and 28 percent good.

Minnesota – Cool temperatures and heavy rains are the story in Minnesota, much like the rest of the central plains. Small grains throughout the state are mostly rated in the good to excellent range, and the wheat crop overall is ahead of the average. Spring wheat is 80 percent jointing, and 36 percent heading.

For more information e-mail crew@allaboardharvest. All Aboard 2010 Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and DuPont Crop Protection.

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