6/19/2009
TIM UNRUH
HEDVILLE — Farmer Duane Flaherty was greasing and fueling up his equipment this morning for the second day of his wheat harvest.
He began harvesting what appears to be a good crop Thursday, and kept the combines running more than four hours.
“As of today, prospects look very good,” Flaherty said, expecting to begin harvesting by mid-day today.
However, it began raining on his fields about 10 miles west of Salina about 10:40 a.m., and Flaherty said harvest activity could be delayed or eliminated today.
His first load of wheat, hauled to the Cargil Ag Horizons grain terminal off Halstead Road west of Salina, posted a test weight of 63.6 pounds per bushel. The industry standard is 60 pounds per bushel.
The wheat has appeared to be ready for several days, but the valuable grain has been slow to ripen for the combines. That’s good news, said Tom Maxwell, agricultural agent for Central Kansas Extension District No. 3, which covers Saline and Ottawa counties.
“The later it stays green, the greater the potential,” Maxwell said.
With a mild chance for rain today and Saturday, full-scale harvest activity could be delayed until Sunday or Monday when high temperatures are expected to flirt with triple digits.
Read more about harvest in Saturday's Salina Journal.

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