Repeated rain storms have slowed the winter wheat harvest from Indiana to Kansas, says the weekly Crop Progress report. Nineteen percent of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 12 points behind average. In Kansas, the top-producing state, only 8 percent of the crop was in the bin, compared to the usual 33 percent by this point in June.
Indiana growers have reaped 5 percent of their winter wheat, compared to the usual 20 percent, and in Illinois only 3 percent is harvested, 26 points behind normal. Oklahoma combined 20 percent of its crop last week and still is 15 points behind normal. Oklahoma usually grows 8 percent of the U.S. winter wheat crop and Kansas crops 20 percent.
The Kansas Wheat Commission says “hot, dry weather and strong winds … have allowed producers in much of the state to get started with the wheat harvest.” Hard red winter wheat, grown in the Plains, is used mostly for bread and in all-purpose flour. Soft, red winter wheat, grown east of the Mississippi River, is used in cakes, pastries, flat breads and crackers.