Published: June 29, 2008 12:54 am            

Harvest nearly over in northwest part of Oklahoma

Business at some area grain elevators hadn’t stopped completely, but wheat truck traffic had slowed to a trickle at a handful on Saturday.

Rick Weathers, Garber Co-op manager, estimated harvest around that area was 90 percent done.

The wheat quality, Weathers said, had diminished in the past several days due to rainy conditions last week. Test weights were down to around 55 pounds per bushel.

Lee Redman, manager of Carrier Mill & Elevator, said it isn’t unusual for test weights to drop the longer harvest goes on.

“We’re just virtually done,” Redman said. “We only have three or four producers going.”

In fact, by mid-afternoon Saturday, a number of grain elevators around the area had closed for the day. Calls seeking comment on the progress of wheat harvest went unanswered at many elevators in northwest Oklahoma.

At Farmers Grain Co. in Hillsdale, just a few trucks were out, said Glen Thorpe, manager. Most of the producers Saturday were finishing up — cutting wheat in mud holes that weren’t accessible earlier in the week.

“The quality is OK. It’s down a little after the rain,” Thorpe said. “We’re grade two.”

No. 2 wheat is 58 pounds per bushel.

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, but that figure dropped in many areas as rain fell.

Joe Royster, manager of Farmers Cooperative-Elevator in Dacoma, said his producers have been finished with harvest for a week.

“We got done before the rain came,” he said.

About quality, Royster said: “Excellent.”