June 28, 2024
The bulk of harvest activity for the week occurred in the Texas Panhandle where farmers are still reporting favorable yields. Due to variability based on the timeliness of rainfall, dryland yields have ranged from 20 to 50 bushels per acre. Irrigated yields have been impressive for most coming in at 80 bushels per acre or higher. Some areas reported highly variable protein levels but region-wide averages are running close to normal around 12.5%. The Northern Panhandle reported being 85% complete while the SE Panhandle was closer to 70%. Progress was slowed in the second half of the week due to mid-week rains.
June 27, 2024
Additional Texas A&M AgriLife Variety Trial data was posted as the Rolling Plains region wrapped up harvest. In the Foard County dual purpose trial the grain yield averaged 36 bushels with a test weight of 60.9. Results from the San Angelo irrigated trial showed an average yield of 57 bushels and a test weight of 58. Individual trial data as well as the regional averages are available at varietytesting.tamu.edu/smallgrains/
June 25, 2024
According to the Texas Crop and Weather Report, wheat harvest wrapped up in West Central Texas by mid-June. Wheat showed poor test weights, and oats were not looking good in the central region. Wheat following cotton averaged 10 to 15 bushels, whereas continuous wheat ranged from 30 to some reports as high as 60 bushels. The wheat harvest in the South Plains was mostly complete. Texas A&M AgriLife agronomists estimated that some fields were likely harvested two weeks later than average because there were fewer combines in the region. Delays led to an increased risk of storm damage and lodging. The Rolling Plains region should complete the wheat harvest this week or early next week. Wheat harvest is continuing in the Panhandle region with above average yields in most areas. Protein levels and test weights have been highly variable. Winter Wheat was also being harvested in the North region with lower test weights and limited sprout.
June 24, 2024
According to the Texas Crop Progress and Condition Report, winter wheat harvested in the state reached 74 percent, up 11 points from the previous week, and up 2 points from normal.
June 21, 2024
Producers in the Blacklands continued to make slow progress with about 50-60% of the area harvested. Test weights remained low while reports of sprout had improved. Yields were down from late season prospects but holding up in some areas where wheat was still standing. Harvest was wrapping up in the Southern Plains with good quality and mostly above average yields. Dryer weather in the Rolling Plains allowed for progress on remaining wheat in the area.
Activity in the Panhandle made slow progress due to rain events during the week. Some pockets which received very heavy rainfall are now expecting a dip in test weight while others are itching to get back in fields as soon as possible. Yields across the region continue to be favorable with dryland yields ranging from 15 to 50 depending on the growing area and rainfall during the season. Irrigated yields remain high with many reports of 85 bushels or higher. Protein averages are 12 percent or higher. Harvest across the region is estimated at 60% complete.
June 18, 2024
According to the Texas Crop and Weather Report: Some areas in the Central Texas received up to 10 inches of rainfall. The wet soil conditions delayed wheat harvest and could impact yield quality and potential. Producers reported seeing kernel sprouting, shattering and severe lodging in some areas. In the Rolling Plains wheat harvest progressed well. The Panhandle received late-week showers, but evaporation rates were high due to warm daytime temperatures and full sun conditions. Silage harvest continued in late-planted wheat and triticale fields. The wheat harvest in dryland fields progressed, with combine operators waiting for moisture levels to drop before transferring grain to storage. The North District was relatively dry with scattered showers reported in one area. The drier conditions allowed fieldwork. Wheat and hay harvest began, but wheat quality was low due to the high moisture levels.
Widespread rain across the Panhandle region will delay harvest in the coming days.
June 17, 2024
According to the Texas Crop Progress and Condition Report, the crop was 63% harvested, up 8 points from the five-year average. Small grain harvest resumed across the state. In the Blacklands, some winter wheat producers observed pre-harvest sprouting.
Harvest progressed in earnest across the Panhandle and Southern Plains as farmers tried to beat weed pressure in fields. Although conditions have been variable, irrigated wheat yields have been as high as 80+ bushels per acre and dryland yields have come in above average. Test weights have ranged from 58 to 60 pounds and proteins have been 12 percent or higher.
June 14, 2024
Harvest along the I-35 corridor was making slow progress as some fields dried out. In the better-performing fields, yields have been reduced about 15-20 percent from earlier potential due to significant rainfall after maturity. Fields in worse condition may have to be abandoned and grain quality was highly variable. Further west and across the Rolling Plains, harvest was 80 percent complete. Most areas reported above average yields with some coming in slightly below expectations. Grain quality held up through harvest with test weights averaging 60 and protein coming in around 11 percent. Southern Plains wheat harvest was wrapping up as activity expanded into the Panhandle. During the week combines were rolling as far north as Perryton but widespread progress was limited due to rainfall. Early yields were promising for many dryland acres and proteins were averaging 12 percent. Significant progress is expected in the coming days before rain chances return toward the end of next week.
June 12, 2024
USDA NASS released updated crop production estimates. U.S. Winter Wheat production is forecast at 1.29 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the May estimate. Texas wheat production is estimated at 71.4 million bushels with a statewide yield average of 34 bushels per acre.
June 11, 2024
According to the Texas Crop and Weather Report: In the Central Texas Region, there was beneficial rainfall, which significantly reduced drought conditions in most areas. However, wheat heads were beginning to sprout, resulting in crop losses. In the Rolling Plains Region, wheat harvest was delayed by rain but fared well with no rust reported. Yields were high in the South Plains region for irrigated wheat grain harvest. In the Panhandle, dryland wheat was passing through final maturity stages quickly, and irrigated fields were close behind due to high daytime temperatures. Many irrigated wheat and triticale fields were harvested for silage. Many wheat fields were unable to be harvested in the North Region because they were past maturity due to wet soil conditions. Finally, in the West Central Region, wheat and oat harvest were wrapping up with few acres left in most areas.
June 10, 2024
According to the Texas Crop Progress and Condition Report, the crop was 47% harvested, up 8 points from the five-year average.
Over the weekend harvest progressed in the Panhandle region before some areas were hit with rainfall. Early dryland yields south of Amarillo were ranging 25-35 bushels per acre. Combines were running as far north as the Oklahoma border.
June 7, 2024
Difficult harvest conditions persisted for most of the Texas Blacklands and Northeast Texas regions. Very little cutting was underway with fields still extremely water logged. Some farmers were exploring adding tracks to combines to get into fields. Wheat quality across the area has been impacted with lower test weights and some instances of sprout damage. Crop insurance agents were actively working with farmers to determine harvestability of downed/damaged acres.
June 6, 2024
Texas A&M AgriLife released variety trial results for the Muenster location.
HRWW Trial Averages: Yield: 68 || Test Weight: 60.3 || Protein: 11.4%
SRWW Trial Averages: Yield: 71.9 || Test Weight: 58.7 || Protein: 10.2%
June 5, 2024
Wheat harvest continued across the South Plains areas and was beginning to expand into the southern reaches of the Panhandle. Early wheat quality reports were favorable with protein averaging 11 percent and test weights around 61 pounds per bushel. Early harvest of more drought-stressed dryland acres saw lower yields and in some cases lighter test weights. Yields are expected to improve as more favorable fields begin harvest in the coming days.
June 4, 2024
According to the Texas Crop and Weather Report: In Central Texas, there were reports of rainfall ranging from 1-6 inches and above normal temperatures and dew points. Wheat and oats planted for grain were still in fields and were not looking good. There were unusually low wheat test weights reported in most areas. In the Rolling Plains region of Texas, wheat producers across the district were grateful for the rain but needed dry days to get harvest equipment into fields. Most areas were reporting good yields. Wheat harvest in the Panhandle was happening quickly with over 90% of fields being chopped for silage. In the North Region wet conditions caused many wheat fields to move past harvest maturity. Wheat head conditions continued to decline due to extreme rainfall. Winter wheat was grazed out and baled for hay in the Far West Region.
June 3, 2024
According to the Texas Crop Progress and Condition Report, the crop was 33% harvested, up 6 percent from the 5-year average. The crop was rated 4% excellent, 32% good, 45% fair, 10% poor and 9% very poor.
June 2, 2024
Uniform Variety Trial data for Chillicothe was posted at https://varietytesting.tamu.edu/smallgrains/. Average yield for the trial was 40 bushels per ace and average test weight was 61.
