Written by Shelby Priddle, assistant director of communications, Kansas Wheat
This is day 11 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.
Weather has continued to stay consistent this week, allowing for farmers to continue on towards the finish of the 2026 harvest season. Producers have reported wrapping up with harvest by the end of this week.
Mike Sieck, a producer from Sherman County, reported taking their first load around June 18 before rain delayed their progress for nearly a week. Sieck estimates they are 75 to 80 percent done with dryland wheat and expect to wrap up within the week.
“There has been a lot of variability, and a lot of wheat that has just been left for cover,” said Sieck. “Drought, freeze damage and hail led to highly variable yields and a lot of abandoned acres in the area.”
Test weights for Sieck have ranged from 60 to 65 pounds, and yields have ranged from seven to 35 bushes per acre. Some varieties that he highlighted were KS Tradition (Kansas Wheat Alliance), KS Territory (Kansas Wheat Alliance) and Westbred varieties 4792, 4795 and 4347.
Sieck encouraged producers to secure seed supplies for the coming year, noting some wheat varieties may be in short supply ahead of fall drilling.
Paul Winkler, Ag Partners’ Location Manager in Marshall County, stated they took their first load on June 30 and reported their area is nearly finished with harvest.
“We have one farmer left that is cutting, but he’ll finish up today,” said Winkler. “We’ve taken in about half as many bushels as we did last year. In our area, acres are just continuously declining year after year, so it is hard to compare this year to an average year for us.”
Winkler reported test weights ranging from 58 to 63 pounds, with yields averaging between 50 to 65 bushels per acre. Outside of the drought, Winkler noted the late frost was an issue in his area.
“I think the late frost hurt the wheat in our area,” said Winkler. “The wheat didn’t tiller like normal, which became a challenge for our farmers.”
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.
