Harvest in the Southern Plains

I had the opportunity to attend the VIP Field Day at our Southern Plains Research station in Vernon, Texas. We are fortunate to have two varieties from this breeding program in our Central Plains lineup, Jackpot and Greer. These varieties tend to have good grazing and high yield potential. 

Wheat harvest was active in the area last Thursday, about half the fields in that area were harvested. Not much mention of yields, but 20 bu. acre and under was mentioned a couple of times. Test weights seemed to be holding up, which was a little surprising given the severity of the drought in that area.  

There were a few fields harvested north of the border into Oklahoma, in the Fredrick and Altus areas. Most fields south of I-40 in Oklahoma had lost their color. There were not many fields between south-central Kansas and Vernon, Texas that looked good.

I have been pleased with how Art, CJ and Jackpot have looked in the plots I have been to. Considering the drought, they seem to be some of the better looking varieties. I hear that PostRock and SY Gold have looked good in plots that Jon Rich, our wheat breeder, has looked at.

I am hearing a few reports of rust as you move into north-central and North West Kansas. With today's wheat prices, it is hard not to justify Quilt fungicide on fields that have more than 30 bu. potential.