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Wheat harvest proceeds after brief weekend stall

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Area farmers began harvesting wheat during the past week, about a week to 10 days ahead of the average start.

Light rains and humid weather slowed harvest over the weekend and again on Monday, but it resumed Tuesday.

According to Mike Thomas, manager of Cooperative Grain and Supply in Marion, Saturday was a big day at the elevator. Approximately 276,000 bushels of wheat have been received so far.

Thomas estimated harvest to be about one-third complete at the end of the week. He said the wheat quality is "really good," with test weights running above 60 pounds.

Farmers are reporting yields averaging between 40 and 50 bushels per acre.

Because of a shortage of hard red winter wheat in western Kansas due to drought, Thomas predicts wheat from this area will be in demand from millers.

Harvest around Lincolnville began Thursday but was stalled over the weekend due to light showers and humid weather.

According to employee Dale Klenda at Agri-Producers, Inc., the elevator had taken in 83,281 bushels by Friday evening. Light moisture kept farmers out of the fields the rest of the weekend.

One farmer west of Lincolnville reported a 69.8 bushel per acre yield on a 35-acre field which had received some hail damage. Average yields are running around 40 bushels.

According to Stan Utting at Tampa, harvest was just getting started there on Friday, but a couple of rains Saturday noon and Sunday morning plus more than an inch on Monday kept farmers out of the fields.

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