Harvest Report – June 8

Combines continued to roll further north this week as they reached the Texas Panhandle. Harvest in the Southern Blacklands and Rolling Plains should be complete by week’s end with very few acres remaining to be cut. Quality factors in both regions are still holding strong with high test weights and protein. Average yields in the Southern Blacklands range from 40-50 bushels in most areas, in stark contrast to the Rolling Plains region which saw average yields close to 10 bushels per acre. The South Plains region, including Brownfield and Lubbock, will also be wrapping up harvest soon with an estimated 85 percent of the acres cut to date.

The combination of high temperatures and windy conditions in the Panhandle has led to a speedy harvest. This week combines are rolling in the southern half of the region and are expected to reach Dumas next week. Test weights in the region have been good, but as is the case with the Rolling Plains region, yields are disappointing at 5-20 bushels per acre on dryland wheat and 30-40 on irrigated acres.

The Soft Red Winter Wheat region north of Dallas is expected to conclude harvest next week as 70 percent of the acreage has been cut. Yields in this area are the best in the state and several producers are cutting 60-80 bushel wheat. Protein levels in the soft wheat are slightly lower and test weights are averaging 58.5 pounds per bushel.

Harvest Progress by Region:

• Coastal Region – 100%
• Northern Blacklands – 70%
• Southern Blacklands (South of Dallas) – 98%
• Southern Rolling Plains (East of Abilene) – 98%
• Northern Rolling Plains (Wichita Falls, Vernon, Childress) – 98%
• South Plains (Lubbock, Brownfield) – 85%
• Panhandle (Amarillo and North) – 30%

Harvest Report – June 1

The Texas wheat harvest continues to progress as combines moved north into the southern half of the Texas Panhandle this week. Elevators reported taking in grain in the South Plains and a couple loads have been received from as far north as Amarillo. Harvest in the Southern Blacklands continues to progress and is currently estimated at 85 percent complete while harvest in the Rolling Plains is estimated to conclude by next week. Although some areas have seen a slight drop in test weights, quality factors are still quite good despite the less than stellar yields. Protein averages remain at or above 12 percent and test weights range from 59-64 pounds per bushel. The Soft Red Winter region, north of Dallas, continues to dry out and about 20 percent of the wheat in the region has been harvested to date.

Harvest Progress by Region:

• Coastal Region – 100%
• Southern Blacklands (South of Dallas) – 85%
• Southern Rolling Plains (East of Abilene) – 85%
• Northern Rolling Plains (Wichita Falls, Vernon, Childress) – 85%
• South Plains (Lubbock, Brownfield) – 20%
• Panhandle (Amarillo and North) – 2%

Harvest Report

Wheat harvest progressed across the state this week. Harvest in the Blacklands area south of Dallas is currently estimated at 50 percent complete with yields averaging close to 50 bushels per acre. Harvest in much of the Rolling Plains region, including Throckmorton and Wichita Falls, has progressed quickly, despite being at least two weeks ahead of schedule. Quality factors in both regions have been very good with test weights averaging 61-62 pounds per bushel, and protein levels above 12 percent. Yields in the Rolling Plains are disappointing at best and range from 10-20 bushels per acre. Producers in the Texas Panhandle and Western Rolling Plains are still watering irrigated fields.

The Soft Red Winter Wheat harvest kicked off this week in the area north of Dallas and yields are expected to be some of the best in the state due to timely rainfall.

Texas Wheat Harvest Begins

Wheat harvest officially began the week of April 18, 2011, in the coastal region of Texas. The first loads were brought into Corpus Christi and early results show favorable test weights and protein averages just above 13 percent. The widespread drought continues to hammer the crop and wheat production in the state is expected to be significantly lower than average. An early harvest is anticipated in several regions of the state, with combines expected to reach the southern edge of the Blacklands in a week to ten days.