Published: June 18, 2008 12:34 am            

Rain is dampening harvest enthusiasm

Rain Monday night and Tuesday morning brought wheat harvest to a halt in the Enid area and dampened enthusiasm somewhat for this year’s crop.

However, elevator operators and others said with a little sunshine things could pick up by the weekend.

Recent rain has hurt test weights some, but yields so far have put a smile on people’s faces.

“Yields have been just fantastic,” said Butch Meibergen, of Johnston Grain in Enid. “It was these guys’ turn to have a double crop.”

He was referring to the last two years, when the crop was hurt by drought in 2006 and too much rain, freeze damage and disease last year.

Meibergen said he has heard talk of yields ranging from 40 bushels an acre to more than 60 bushels.

That range was echoed by others.

Jeff Bedwell, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service ag educator in Garfield County, said yields in some areas could be more than 70 bushels an acre. The lack of freeze damage and disease has much to do with the high yield, he said.

“It’s a better plant by far,” Bedwell said, “to be able to withstand the weather we’ve been having.”

Lee Redman, manager of Carrier Mill & Elevator, said yields have been 40-60 bushels an acre.

“We took in more wheat in two days than we did all last year,” he said.

The latest crop forecast from U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, released June 1, predicts a crop of 157.5 million bushels, compared to 98 million bushels last year.

Recent rain has been lowering test weights. To grade No. 1 and collect a higher price, wheat must be at least 60 pounds per bushel, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. Weights at the start of harvest were 60 and above, although that figure has dropped as more rain has fallen.

Elevator operators in the area have reported test weights 57-58 pounds. No. 2 wheat is 58 pounds per bushel.

How far along harvest is depends on where you are, Bedwell and others said.

In the southern part of the county, harvest may be 70-80 percent done, he said. Farther north it drops to 25-30 percent.

Rick Weathers, manager of Garber Co-op Elevator, said it appears 50-60 percent of the crop remains uncut.

Redman said most wheat in the Carrier area has been cut.

“I assume we’re at least 75 percent done,” Redman said.

All agreed the area needs some dry days.

“We need the rain to stop,” Redman said. “If it rains for a week, we’re in trouble.”

National Weather Service is forecasting a chance of rain through at least Thursday.