Agricultural News
Test Weight Worries Dominate Talk as the 2015 Wheat Harvest Continues to Edge North
Fri, 12 Jun 2015 06:09:25 CDT
Worry is mounting about low test weights as the 2015 winter wheat harvest continues across Oklahoma and is now beginning in Kansas. A year ago- the drought ravaged winter wheat crop had an average 60.7 pound test weight, according to the test samples gathered by Plains Grains, Inc. In 2015, the crop was once again being finished under conditions that were more drought like- but then in May- record rainfall fell across much of the southern HRW belt- and many fields in the three largest HRW states are recording lower test weights in response to the abundant moisture. In addition, where fungicides were not applied this spring- stripe rust has hurt the crop- and one of the damaging effects comes in the form of lower test weights.
Early harvest reports have shown a lot of elevators are saying that the wheat they are taking in is mostly in the 56 to 59 pounds per bushel test weight. What is not being reported- and probably will not be figured into the final average test weight score- are the hundreds and likely thousands of acres not harvested and handed over to an insurance adjuster because the test weight is 53.99 pounds per bushel or less.
Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with wheat producer Don Schieber of Kay County running his combine in Canadian County near Minco on Thursday afternoon- and his John Deere combine was harvesting wheat that was yielding a very good sixty pound test weight score. However, he told Hays that the day before- his crew had to pull out of one large field in that same area because the test weight was just below fifty pounds- and the word from Crop Insurance adjusters was to not harvest it.
Schieber had earlier this month cut wheat in southwestern Oklahoma in the Walters and Chattanooga area- and found no test weight problems there- the wheat he had combined came in from 56 to 58 pounds per bushel.
Schieber is concerned that as harvest expands in central and north central Oklahoma- many fields may also fail the test weight standard. Additional heavy rains now in the forecast could add to the problem.
One positive that continues to be seen in most harvest reports- the lack of sprout damage. Schieber says he has seen no sprout damage in any field he has been in to this point- in either southwest Oklahoma or in Central Oklahoma.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear Don Schieber and Hays talk wheat harvest 2015 from the field in Canadian County.
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