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Western Kansas farmer says wheat harvest exceeded expectations

Western Kansas farmer David Schemm says winter wheat harvest exceeded his expectations despite severe to exceptional drought in areas of the state.

“Surprisingly, it turned out relatively good for us.  We did have a wide-range of yields for us on fields ranging from 11 bushels-per-acre to 70 bushels-per-acre.”

He tells Brownfield fields that received timely rains or snow produced a better crop. “We’re able to get enough grain fill out there, quality was good, test weights were good and protein was good.”

The Wheat Quality Tour predicted an average yield of nearly 40 bushels per acre, and Schemm says results were a mixed bag.  “My area, I think, we were under that as far as an average from what I’m hearing from producers, but I think you get a ways away from us yields were a little more than what they were expecting.”

Schemm says late season rains in other areas of the state likely pulled yields higher.