A tough wheat harvest is finally coming to a close in the Southern Plains. Wheat is a remarkably resilient crop, but it gets hurt worse by excessive rain, especially at harvest.
I grew up in Oklahoma, where wheat was the only grain crop harvested each year. It normally started in late May and was almost always finished by mid-June.
This year, with heavy rains flattening entire regions of the number two winter wheat state, the harvest is still going. The good news is that it has weathered the storms, literally, and the quality is good.
Background:
- The standard weight of a bushel of wheat is 60 pounds.
- Sprouting of grain, while standing in the field, destroys the value of the crop.
- In the world market, this wheat is used for making bread. Its milling and baking characteristics vary year-to-year, but the 2019 harvest seems to be very good.
Radio Oklahoma Network farm director Ron Hays spoke to Mike Schulte, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission about this year?s crop.
AUDIO: Profit Matters 7-2-19
