By: SHELBY PRIDDLE
Kansas Wheat
This is day 1 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.
Predicted to be one of the earliest harvests in recent history, rain and high humidity have stalled initial harvest reports. Harvest moved into southern and central Kansas toward the end of last week, but since then it has been slow going.
Officially, the 2026 Kansas wheat harvest is 5 percent complete, ahead of average for the state, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service crop progress report for the week ending June 8, 2026. Winter wheat conditions were rated 26 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 14 percent good and 0 percent excellent.
Tim Turek, a farmer from Sumner County, began test cutting last week but was stalled by scattered showers and storms that continued into the weekend, causing lingering humidity and spotty areas of dry wheat.
“There are smaller, more dry pockets around,” Turek said. “I see some combines moving around, so I think some guys are going to get going again in this area this afternoon.”
Before rain stalled his progress, Turek reported test weights of 59 and 60 and protein levels around 11 percent. The first field he completed yielded 44 bushels per acre.
“That is better than what I thought it was going to be,” Turek said. “The drought really took the top end out of it; we thought we had a home run until it didn’t rain in late April and early May.” He hopes to get back into the field this afternoon, depending on moisture conditions.
Elevators in south central and southwest Kansas report a similar story, with rain and high humidity slowing harvest progress across the region. While some farmers started cutting over the past weekend, early reports indicate that yields are below average. Contacts in Sumner and Meade counties are hopeful harvest will be in full swing by the end of the week. There are a few days of clear skies and high temperatures in the forecast that should help wheat dry out across the state.
A farmer in Barton County reported that harvest began Friday, June 5, after missing the scattered rain events seen across much of the state. He estimates he is about 20 percent complete, a few days ahead of others in the area.
“I’d say our biggest challenge this year has been the drought. I’ve cut 40-bushel wheat and eight-bushel wheat this year.” He reported a 30-bushel-per-acre average on wheat harvested so far and expects to finish in about 10 days.
The 2026 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association, and the Kansas Cooperative Council.