© 2021
In touch with the world ... at home on the High Plains
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Oklahoma Rains Come Too Much, Too Late for Many OK Wheat Farmers

Joe Wertz
/
StateImpact Oklahoma

While the five-year drought has been broken in Oklahoma, the rain was too much and too late for many wheat farmers,says StateImpact, a reporting project of NPR stations. This year, the wheat crop was ready before the fields were dry. Though the rain was certainly more welcome than the alternative, many wheat fields were too soggy for combines and other heavy equipment to be employed. In some cases, this meant rotting wheat, prevalent weeds and early sprouting. These problems cost money and time, and result in lower yields.

While yields were much better than last year, this season will not be considered a good year by many wheat farmers. In Oklahoma, a good year means 140 million bushels statewide. This year, Oklahoma only harvested about one third of that number. However, lakes and reservoirs are full, and that means more irrigation in the future.

For more, listen to StateImpact Oklahoma's story here.