A farmer in Barton County reported that harvest began Friday, June 5, after missing the scattered rain events seen across much of the state, according to the 2026 Kansas Wheat Harvest Report.
The unnamed farmer estimates he is about 20% complete, a few days ahead of others in the area.
“I’d say our biggest challenge this year has been the drought. I’ve cut 40-bushel wheat and eight-bushel wheat this year.” He reported a 30-bushel-per-acre average on wheat harvested so far and expects to finish in about 10 days.
Great Bend Tribune staff traveling to the Kansas Press Association’s Awards of Excellence program in Hutchinson on Friday afternoon saw a few combines in fields, even after recent rain. Then Great Bend received 1.75 inches of rain on Monday and almost 2 inches on Tuesday.
Monday was Day 1 of the 2026 Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, sponsored by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.
Predicted to be one of the earliest harvests in recent history, rain and high humidity have stalled initial harvest reports. Harvest moved into southern and central Kansas toward the end of last week, but since then it has been slow going.
Officially, the 2026 Kansas wheat harvest is 5% complete, ahead of average for the state, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service crop progress report for the week ending June 8. Winter wheat conditions were rated 26% very poor, 31% poor, 29% fair, 14% good and 0% excellent.
Tim Turek, a farmer from Sumner County, began test cutting last week but was stalled by scattered showers and storms that continued into the weekend, causing lingering humidity and spotty areas of dry wheat.
“There are smaller, more dry pockets around,” Turek said. “I see some combines moving around, so I think some guys are going to get going again in this area this afternoon.”
Before rain stalled his progress, Turek reported test weights of 59 and 60 and protein levels around 11 percent. The first field he completed yielded 44 bushels per acre.
“That is better than what I thought it was going to be,” Turek said. “The drought really took the top end out of it; we thought we had a home run until it didn’t rain in late April and early May.” He hopes to get back into the field this afternoon, depending on moisture conditions.
Elevators in south central and southwest Kansas report a similar story, with rain and high humidity slowing harvest progress across the region. While some farmers started cutting over the past weekend, early reports indicate that yields are below average. Contacts in Sumner and Meade counties are hopeful harvest will be in full swing by the end of the week. There are a few days of clear skies and high temperatures in the forecast that should help wheat dry out across the state.
Report Day 2, Stafford County
Monday 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 Tuesday. He had taken in four to five loads, 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 Tuesday and Wednesday. 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.
BY SHELBY PRIDDLE
Kansas Wheat
Additional reporting by Great Bend Tribune staff. 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. Shelby Priddle is assistant director of communications at Kansas Wheat.
