Agricultural News
Wheatwatch 2012: Rain and Hail Bring Damage, Halt to Harvest Across Oklahoma
Mon, 21 May 2012 16:00:20 CDT
The hail storms in SW Oklahoma Saturday night have left their mark. Reports coming into the Oklahoma Wheat Commission say the wheat crop in some areas has sustained minor to substantial damage.
Washita and Custer County are both reporting 10 - 15% losses, county wide. A few fields will be in the 50 - 75% loss area and some could be zeroed out.
The Canute and Foss area was hit very hard with the hail. Hail damage was also reported in the Mountain View area (Kiowa County). The storms were very wide spread and very sporadic as the hail fell. Rain gauges measured anywhere from .70 to over 3 inches in these areas.
Harvest will most likely begin again in full force by Thursday with the hot, windy conditions predicted and some may start as early as Wednesday evening in these areas.
The Coop in Butler (Custer County) is reporting some loss and probably no complete losses. They have taken in around 38,000 bushels to date. Test weights are averaging 58 and moisture is good at 9?10.
Clinton (Custer County) Coop reported that wheat is not on the ground as much as expected but that no real damage estimates have come in yet.
The Coops in Cordell and Bessie (Washita County) have taken in 455,000 bushels. Test weights are averaging 59 and moisture is 9?11. No real yields estimates are available yet. Wheeler Brothers in Cordell is reporting test weights ranging from 54 - 61 with the average being 58, before the weekend rains. Moisture is 9?12 and yields that have been reported are averaging 40 bushels per acre.
Harvest around Chickasha is just getting started with 40,000 bushels taken in. Test weights are ranging 58 - 60 and moisture is 11?12. This is another area that received a lot of rain and they do not expect to be back in the field before the end of the week.
Watonga is also just getting a good start and test weights are running 59?61 with moisture at 12?13. As predicted, the Frederick area is almost finished. The weekend rains slowed them up a bit, but all elevators in the area are reporting 90% complete.
Harvest in northern Oklahoma is off and running. This area did not get the substantial rainfall that southwest Oklahoma did, so they will be in the fields this afternoon and for sure tomorrow.
Waukomis took their first load in on Friday and have taken in around 6000 bushels. Test weights are averaging 61 and yields are averaging 55 - 60. Moisture is too high to cut today, but they expect to be going again by Tuesday afternoon.
Bison has taken in around 115,000 bushels with test weights averaging 61. Yields are ranging from 45 -50 bushels per acre. Most of the wheat varieties coming in are Overly, Duster, Jackpot, and Doans. No Endurance or Billings yet. They expect to start up again later this afternoon, around 4?5pm.
Plains Partners in Okarche reported test weights of 60 or better and moisture in the 10's. This area received rain this morning, up to 1 inch at the county line.
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