Written by Shelby Priddle, assistant director of communications, Kansas Wheat
This is day 2 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.
Last night, violent storms struck central and eastern parts of the state, delaying harvest further for farmers in those regions. Frequent rainfall and persistent humidity are keeping many combines parked. With additional scattered thunderstorms in the forecast, producers are watching the weather closely and waiting for a stretch of warm, dry conditions to allow harvest to move ahead.
John Hildebrand, a farmer in Stafford County, reported taking his first load on Friday, June 5, with rainfall holding progress until today. He has taken in four to five loads so far, with test weights showing 58 pounds and yields far less than his 2025 crop.
“This year’s yield will be below average,” Hildebrand said. “We didn’t get any rain for 3 months, then we got it all at the start of harvest.”
Hildebrand is unsure when harvest will be complete, as additional storms in the forecast could keep combines out of the field until next week.
“It doesn’t work very well for wheat when it’s dry during our wet period, then dumped on during harvest,” said Hildebrand. “We’d like to be thinking of the finish line, but we’re not anywhere close to that.”
Southwest Kansas missed Monday evening’s thunderstorms, allowing wheat to be brought in yesterday and today. Brent Boyd, Grain Manager at Pride Ag Resources in Dodge City, reported that they saw their first load on Saturday, June 6, before the rain stopped them. The elevator was in full swing Monday, June 8, seeing 125,000 bushels across multiple locations.
“I was surprised to see that the test weight seems to be holding after the rain we had gotten,” Boyd said. “I think there is unfinished grain out there. I would almost think, of what we lose, we for sure will gain on the wheat that isn’t finished.”
Boyd estimates that in their area, they are 1 percent done with harvest, and looking to complete harvest before July 4.
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. To follow along with harvest updates on X, use #wheatharvest26. Tag us at @kansaswheat on Facebook, Instagram and X to share your harvest story and photos.
