LINCOLN, Neb. – With wheat harvest underway in parts of the Panhandle, the outlook is for a good crop for 2018.

According to the USDA Crop Progress Report for the week ending July 8, topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 12 short, 78 adequate and 8 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short, 17 short, 74 adequate and 6 surplus. Winter wheat condition rated 5 percent very poor, 7 poor, 19 fair, 55 good and 14 excellent. Winter wheat harvested was 25 percent, well behind last year’s 47 percent and near the 27 average. 

In the northern Panhandle, producers said some test cutting has been done, however, the majority of harvest will likely start early next week. Temperatures are predicted to be in the upper 90s for most of the week. Concern was expressed regarding sawfly damage. Producers estimate as many as 75 percent of fields in the region have some sawfly present, but actual amount of sawflies per field varies. With wind speeds up to 30 miles per hour forecasted, some lodging in damaged fields could occur. 

In the southern Panhandle, harvest has begun. Producers estimate the eastern half of the region is 10-25 percent harvested. Precipitation and humidity delayed harvest near the end of last week. Yields are ranging 30 to 70 bushels per acre. Test weights range from 55 to 62 pounds, but protein is varying widely across the area, with deliveries at the local elevator testing anywhere from 7 to 17. In the western half of the region, harvest is just starting in the lower elevations. Forecasted warm, dry weather has producers anticipating harvest will progress quickly in the region. Initial reports of cut wheat have yields ranging from 5 to 80 bushels per acre. Most lower-yielding fields were in areas hit by hail earlier in the season. Test weights averaged 60 pounds, and proteins ranged from 9 to 12, with most averaging in the 10s and 11s. 

Producers in southwestern Nebraska said the hot dry weather has been beneficial to harvest progression. Some producers are reporting harvest nearly done in their areas, with some parts of the region only 50 percent harvested. Reported yields range from 25 to 70 bushels per acre, with most fields averaging in the upper 40s. Test weights averaged 59 to 60 pounds, with some weighing as low as 57 and some as high as 63. Protein levels varied across the region, with most fields averaging in the upper 11s to low 13s. However, protein levels as low as 9 and as high as 14 were reported. 

In south central Nebraska, producers said harvest along the southern border with Kansas is nearly complete. The northern part of the region is 30-60% done with harvest. Parts of this region also received hail earlier in the year. Yields ranged from 15 in hailed fields to 85 bushels per acre. The average yield for the region thus far is 55 bushels per acre. Test weights ranged from 60 to 62 pounds and proteins ranged from 9 to 14.

Harvest is complete in southeastern Nebraska producers said. Yields in the region were lower than average, due in large part to dry conditions for much of spring. Yields ranged from the low 20s to 50, but most fields averaged in the mid 30s.