From the Ground Up: Record rainfall forces changes to wheat harvest

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - This Spring’s record-breaking rainfall has plagued wheat fields across the state of Texas. This has forced farmers to rearrange their harvesting schedule.

With over three million acres harvested annually, Texas is one of the largest wheat producers in the United States. This crop alone generates nearly $300 million for Texas farmers every ear, but some fear this season may be different.

“If it keeps raining, it’s going to lower the grades,” Farmer/Rancher Joe Wilder said. “So that’s a financial hit right there and it can happen quick. It doesn’t take but two or three rains and Mother Nature can mess it up.”

Excessive rainfall can cause wheat crops to mature ahead of schedule, but with flooded pastures, farmers aren’t able to get equipment into the fields to harvest. As a result, many crops grow past harvest maturity.

“It takes a lot of wet weather to make it sprout, but it does do it, and if it does, then it more so goes cattle feed or something else and not for human consumption,” Wilder said.

While the start of the harvest season has been less than ideal, there is still plenty of time to make a high-quality harvest, as long as the forecast cooperates.

“The potential to make us a good crop with mother nature helping us and if we just don’t go to the other extremes this summer,” Wilder said.

Copyright 2024 KBTX. All rights reserved.