Oklahoma Harvest Report
By: The Oklahoma Wheat Commission
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
The Oklahoma Wheat Harvest continues to make progress in Central and Northern Oklahoma despite rains last night in several places. Most of the harvest is complete in Northeast Oklahoma and is just starting on limited acres in the Panhandle region. This report will only include the Central, Northern, Northeast and Panhandle locations as harvest has pretty much wrapped up in Southern Oklahoma.
Test weights in Central Oklahoma have been ranging all over the board as this region has been plagued with rains throughout harvest, but they are coming in lighter at 55 to 60 lbs. per bushel. The average for this region is 58 lbs., which is remarkable given everything the crop has been through. Yields are also all over the board ranging from the low 20’s to the mid 30’s with some higher yields reported on rare occasions. Producers are really having challenges getting the crop out in this region fighting mud and heavy weed pressures.
North Central Oklahoma test weights are still favorable with many locations reporting 60 plus for this region. Yields are projected at a 30 bushel per acre average overall. Weeds are also becoming more of an issue for producers in this area.
In Northwest Oklahoma quality varies depending on location with weights ranging from 57 lbs. to 60 lbs. per bushel. Most locations are reporting average yields in the high 20’s with many acres abandoned due to the long-term drought. Weeds are also becoming an issue on the remaining wheat in several locations.
In Northeast Oklahoma the quality of both the Hard Red Winter wheat and Soft Red Winter wheat has been extremely favorable. Test weights are coming in at 61 to 63 lbs. with yields on Hard Red Winter Wheat being reported at 50 bushels per acre and Soft Red Winter Wheat being reported at 85 to over 100 bushels per acre in some instances.
In the Panhandle region harvest is beginning in some areas but will not take long as some locations say much of the wheat has been abandoned. Some irrigated yields are being reported at 50 to 60 bushels per acre on early cuttings. Much of the dryland wheat will not be harvested. A lot of the cutting going on in this region is also going to on-farm storage for seed purposes. Protein has been ranging from 10.5% to 14.5% in most locations with stronger proteins overall. The state average as of today for protein is figured at 13.3%. The Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling harvest 68% complete.
Central Oklahoma
Hinton – Yields in the area are being reported from the low 20’s to mid 40’s. Test weights are averaging 59 to 61 lbs. per bushel. Protein was ranging from 12.5% to 13.5%. This region is 95% harvested.
El Reno – Yields in the area are being reported from the mid 20’s to mid 40’s depending on location and management practices. Some management intensive producers mentioned yields in the 50’s. Test weights range from 58 lbs. to 60 lbs. per bushel. Protein is ranging from 12% to 14%. Producers are struggling a great deal with grass and weeds in this region. This region is 65% harvested.
Okarche – Yields are being reported in the low 20’s to high 30’s for the most part. Some management intensive producers are reporting higher yields in the low 40’s. Test weights are ranging from 56 lbs. to 61 lbs. per bushel. Average test weight for the region is coming in at 59 lbs. per bushel. Protein is ranging from 12.5% to 13.5%. This region is 75% harvested.
Reeding/Piedmont – Test weights on what is being harvested are at 59 lbs. per bushel. Yields are being reported from the mid 20’s to mid 30’s. Protein was averaging 13% on early cuttings. This region is 75% harvested.
Hennessey – Test weights are ranging from 57 to 58 lbs. per bushel. Yields are favorable with the region looking at a 30 bushel per acre average. Producers are facing challenges with weeds and mud in this region and have had some challenges getting the crop out. This region is 30% harvested.
Northern Oklahoma
Loyal/Hitchcock/Okeene/Fairview – Test weights are ranging from 58 to 60 lbs. per bushel. Yields are ranging from the low 20’s to mid 30’s for the most part. A few management intensive producers mentioned higher yields in the mid to higher 40’s. Overall yield average for the region should be in the high 20’s. Protein is ranging from 13% to 14%. Producers are having to deal with terrible weed pressure now in several fields. Loyal, Okeene, Fairview regions are 50% harvested. Hitchcock region is considered 80% harvested due to more abandonment in the region.
Ringwood/Meno/Drummond – Test weights are ranging from 58 to 60 lbs. per bushel. Yields for this region are ranging from the mid 20’s to mid 40’s. The yield average for this region should be in the high 20’s. Protein is ranging from 12% to 14%. This region is 30% harvested.
Lahoma – Test weights are ranging from 58 lbs. to 61 lbs. per bushel. Yields are being reported in the low to mid 30’s. Proteins are ranging from 12% to 14%. This region is 70% harvested.
Burlington – Test weights in this region are mainly at 60 lbs. per bushel and above. With rains over the past few days, some have been lowered to 59 lbs. per bushel. Yields on wheat in this region are being reported from 25 bushels per acre to 35 bushels per acre with a few higher yields being reported in the low to mid 40’s, but those instances are rare. Proteins are coming in at a 13% average for the region. A large amount of wheat in this region has been abandoned and was cut down for hay. This region is 90% harvested.
Shattuck – Test weights at this location have been reported at 58 lbs. to 62 lbs. per bushel depending on location and management practices. Dryland wheat in this area is reportedly making in the low 20’s. Some irrigated wheat in this region is being reported to be making 60 bushels per acre. Protein is ranging from 12.5% to 14%. This region is 45% harvested.
Kremlin/Wakita/Renfrow – Yields for this region are being reported at a 30 to 35 bushel average, but a lot of wheat in the region has been abandoned due to severe drought. Test weights are still mostly 60 lbs. per bushel and above. Proteins are ranging from 12% to 14%. This region is 65% harvested.
Pond Creek/Hunter/Medford – Yields ranging from the low 20’s to low 40’s depending on location and management practices. Test weights are reported at 60 lbs. per bushel. Proteins ranging from 12% to 14%. This region is 65% harvested.
Tonkawa/Ponca City/Blackwell/Braman – Test weight for this region have been ranging from 58 lbs. to 60 lbs. per bushel. Producers reporting the wheat to be making 30 to 35 bushels per acre for the most part as an average in this region. Proteins are ranging from 13% to 14%. Producers are starting to face challenges with heavy weed pressure in this area. This region is 50% harvested.
Oklahoma Panhandle
Buffalo/Selman – Not much wheat has been taken in at these regions, as much of the crop has been abandoned due to the long-term drought. Most wheat harvested in the area is being utilized for seed wheat. Yields are ranging from the teens to high 20’s. Test weights are 59 lbs. to 61 lbs. per bushel. Protein is averaging 13% to 14%. This area is 45% complete with harvest.
Hooker – Some dryland wheat has been taken in at this location over the last two days. Test weights were ranging from 60 to 63 lbs. per bushel. No yields have been reported. Proteins are ranging from 12% to 14%. Nothing as of recent is being reported on irrigated wheat being harvested, although one field in the region was reported to have made 60 bushels per acre. No percentage allocated to harvest completion as they are just getting started in this area.
Boise City – No harvest is being reported in this region. It is predicted harvest will begin in this region over the coming weekend for the wheat that will be harvested. Much of the wheat in this area has been abandoned due to the long-term drought this past year.
Northeast Oklahoma
Afton – 60% of the wheat reported at this location is Soft Red Winter Wheat, and the other 40% is Hard Red Winter. Harvest on both classes has been extremely high quality with favorable yields. Test weights on all wheat have been 60 lbs. and above with the majority of the wheat coming in at 62 lbs. to 63 lbs. per bushel. Yields on the Hard Red Winter Wheat are being reported at 40 to 50 bushels per acre. Yields on the Soft Red Winter Wheat are being reported at 80 to 100 bushels per acre. No proteins have been reported. Harvest in this region is 95-97% complete.
Miami – 95% of the wheat reported at this location is Soft Red Winter Wheat, the other 5% is Hard Red Winter Wheat. Harvest on both classes has been extremely high quality with favorable yields. Test weights on all wheat has been 60 lbs. and above with the majority of the wheat coming in at 62 lbs. to 63 lbs. per bushel. Yields on the Hard Red Winter wheat are being reported at 40 to 50 bushels per acre. Yields on the Soft Red Winter Wheat are being reported from 80 to 100 bushels per acre. No proteins have been reported. Harvest in this region is 90% complete.
Wheat Classes And What They Are Used For
Hard Red Winter (HRW) – A versatile wheat with excellent milling and baking characteristics for pan bread. Hard Red Winter wheat is also a choice for Asian noodles, hard rolls, flat breads, general purpose flour and cereal.
Soft Red Winter (SRW) – A versatile, weak-gluten wheat with excellent milling and baking characteristics suited for cookies, crackers, pretzels, pastries and flat breads.
Below, see the next 7-Day Forecast and 3-Day Rainfall Accumulation recorded by the Oklahoma Mesonet. The next Oklahoma Harvest Report will be published on Thursday, July 6, 2023 due to the 4th of July Holiday. A regional report will be published by Plains Grain Inc. on Friday, June 30, 2023.
