PAWNEE COUNTY — Barring additional moisture, area wheat stands are approaching what is expected to be a mid-June start to harvest.

Kim Barnes, of Pawnee County Co-op Association in Larned, said this week that if the weather cooperates, harvest could begin by June 15 in the county. “My prediction was around June 15, but that really depends upon the weather,” Barnes said. “The recent rain really did help to boost expected yields by about 10 bushels per acre. But what we really need is a succession of really warm days to get things dried out.”

Others weren’t as optimistic, but were leaning toward getting started by the first week in July.

“If we get more rain, and it is kind of looking like we will, we could be looking at cutting wheat on the July 4 holiday,” noted local Pawnee County farm

See Full Page