Thanks to rain, harvest is later, but wheat is good

Wheat harvest has officially started in northeast Colorado, with many farmers getting into the field for the first time last Monday, July 10. This is later than normal, with good rain this spring allowing the growing season to go longer. 

In fact, for Tricia and Jeff Michael, who farm northwest of Holyoke, this is the latest they can remember getting started with wheat harvest in their 20-plus years of farming. The Michaels are about half done with cutting as of Tuesday, July 18, Tricia said. 

Although hail around the Holyoke and Haxtun area is presenting some farmers with poor-quality wheat, the majority of it is good, according to local officials and farmers. 

Other forms of weather have also been affecting farmers’ crops this year. For example, consistent cutting has been sporadic because of on-again, off-again rains and high humidity. 

“That (high humidity) is one challenge that we have never had to face before, especially all day long,” Tricia said. “Getting a late start in the mornings and being forced to shut down early in the evenings is not our normal harvest hours for sure.”

Tricia said fields are beginning to dry now, but one major challenge has been how soggy the fields are.  

“Rain every afternoon slows progress pretty quickly. There are many lagoons, and hidden muddy spots. Monday (July 17) was the first day we haven’t had to pull someone or something out,” she said.

As for quality of the wheat, Tricia said their test weight has been averaging around 50 pounds, protein is around 12-13, yields average around 50 bushels per acres and the moisture is around 13.5.

Many of these numbers are similar to several of the elevators around the area. 

CHS High Plains at Haxtun

At CHS High Plains in Haxtun, Grain Department Manager Scott Kirkwood said, indeed, harvest started at least 10 days later than normal because of the wet spring. But he commented that rain is welcome any time, even if it delays harvest. 

“The wheat is finally dry because of the warmer weather over the past couple of days,” Kirkwood said. 

For Haxtun, the average test weight has been around 59.5 pounds, protein 11, and yields are around 50 bushels per acre. Which, Kirkwood said, is “pretty good.” He has seen damaged wheat because of hail but said there hasn’t been a lot. 

CHS High Plains at Holyoke

At CHS High Plains in Holyoke, Salesman Perry Campbell said as of Monday, July 17, 40% of the harvest is complete in the Holyoke area, with the elevator taking its first load on Tuesday, July 11. 

Campbell said because of the wet and humid spring and summer, he has been seeing some signs of disease such as head blight. However, the majority of the crop looks good. 

Protein is average, he said, sitting around 11. Yields have been slightly above average, sitting around 50 bushels per acre. 

As for moisture, he said the wheat has really been struggling to dry down, sitting around 12-16 for the first few days of cutting, but has dropped to around 10-13 with the heat Sunday and Monday. 

Paoli Farmers Co-op

At the Paoli Farmers Co-op, General Manager Shawna Mason said their area saw horrible hail this spring and early summer, but there is still some good wheat coming in. 

Paoli also started on Tuesday, July 11, with their producers being around 1/3 of the way done, she said. 

“There are still a few wet fields out there, but a lot of it has dried down with the hot weather the past couple of days,” Mason said. 

For numbers, Mason said test weight has been around 58 pounds, protein is averaging 11.2, and yields are around 50-60 bushels per acre, with the hailed fields around 30 bushels per acre, she said. 

An unusual year

The 2023 wheat harvest will go down as an unusual one in the area. But, for producers like the Michaels, it is better than suffering through the dry, hot weather of recent years. 

“It’s definitely had some challenges that we are not anxious to repeat any time soon,” Tricia said. “But, after the severe drought we experienced last year, we are thankful for the moisture, regardless.”