LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Rain is slowing early hard red winter wheat harvest in the southern Plains, while quality concerns remain tied to drought stress and recent weather. U.S. Wheat Associates says Texas is 5 percent harvested, with combines also running in Oklahoma and southern Kansas.
The Wheat Quality Council tour confirmed a below-average Kansas crop, with drought stress, rising abandonment, and wide yield swings. Early Texas and Oklahoma samples show yields from 15 to 50 bushels per acre and test weights from 55 to 61 pounds per bushel.
Soft red winter harvest has started in the South, with Alabama 6 percent complete and Arkansas at 1 percent. Conditions remain more favorable in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, though disease risk is being monitored following rainfall.
Spring wheat planting is 73 percent complete, ahead of average, while northern durum planting is advancing as well.
Weather will now shape kernel development, test weight, and final quality across several wheat classes.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Early wheat harvest is moving, but rain, drought stress, and disease pressure will determine yield and quality.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
The proposal would require farmers’ consent before companies can sell agricultural data
April 14, 2026 01:37 PM
·
Lane Howard and Adam Andrews with the National Corn Growers Association joined us in the studio discuss EPA’s approval of summer E15 sales, ongoing fuel market concerns, and the industry’s push for a long-term biofuels solution for farmers.
April 14, 2026 01:09 PM
·
Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation discusses how stewardship is driving efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness in the dairy industry.
April 14, 2026 12:51 PM
·
Texas continues to play a critical role in the U.S. beef supply chain, with both cow-calf operations and feedlots contributing significantly to national production.
April 14, 2026 11:40 AM
·
Farm Bureau officials say the findings underscore mounting pressure on producers heading into the 2026 growing season, with input costs continuing to outpace farm income.
Corey Rosenbusch with The Fertilizer Institute joined us to discuss supply chain disruptions and what farmers should watch as global tensions impact fertilizer markets.
April 14, 2026 10:48 AM
·
Spring Fieldwork Expands While Weather Challenges Persist Nationwide
April 13, 2026 04:40 PM
·
