22
Pawnee County Agriculture H
igher wheat prices delivered a pleasant surprise to Pawnee County area farmers, who enjoyed a promising 2021 harvest. The Pawnee County Coop Association brought home 2.2 million bushels of wheat for the 2021 harvest. The majority of the
crop was purchased when the wheat price was $5.80 or slightly higher, a far cry from the $3.80 price in 2020. A higher price for wheat spreads good news all-around, according to Kim Barnes, chief financial officer and grain merchandiser for the Pawnee County Coop Association (PCCA).
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PROUD PAST ... PROGRESSIVE FUTURE
www.gvinc.coop Rozel
Burdett
Main Office.............. 527-4216 Service Station........ 527-4250 Toll Free ........... 888-527-4216
Office ...............525-6226 Toll Free ....888-330-6226
Sanford Sanford .......527-4306 Garfield .......569-2250 Larned.........285-2333
“We’ve had a good year with farmers earning a good price for their wheat,” Barnes said. “It looks promising for the futures, which are approaching a nine-year high since 2012 when the price was high. Farmers are liking what they’re seeing looking ahead.” Barnes said a plentiful harvest is excellent for business. “We figure that harvest is rolled over seven times in the economy, and that’s good for everybody,” he said. Ample moisture fueled late progress for the 2021 wheat, which had an extended time frame for harvest. There was a record cold snap that created frost issues in February followed by a seasonably warm March. Ample rain followed, which created a solid crop. “Harvest required more time than normal,” Barnes said. “The farmers were delayed by high humidity during the early part of the day. They benefited 1 or 2 percent with drier wheat if they waited until later in the day. We got good moisture at the right time during the growing period.” The wheat benefited from a late weather boost. “During the filling process, there was cooler weather and ample rain which helped the plant mature and finish,” he said. Farmers who sprayed for disease benefited from the treatment. “Disease in areas pushed the test weight down, but those who sprayed for disease paid off and they could tell a positive benefit.” The prospective Pawnee County fall harvest of corn, milo
and soybeans looks promising because of the sufficient summer rain. Dryland corn harvest will be delayed with milo and soybeans to follow. “The fall crop harvest appears bigger than we’ve had in recent years,” Barnes said. “We’ve enjoyed an ample year of moisture. Dryland corn and irrigated corn looks to be a good crop. The milo is heading out.” The eastern half of Pawnee County has been blessed with ample moisture, which has missed parts of western Pawnee County. “Dryland crops can fold up because of the heat, so the rain has helped a lot where it’s fallen,” Barnes said. “The milo looks good, and it’s headed out from Larned to Hays. They’ll be plenty of milo to harvest.” Golden Valley, Inc., a farmer owned grain and supply cooperative was formed December 1, 2001 by the consolidation of Golden Plains Cooperative of Rozel and Sanford, Farmers Coop Grain and Supply of Burdett and Tri-Ag Coop of Sanford. Golden Valley, Inc. handles wheat, corn, milo and soybeans at three locations with 4 million bushels of combined grain storage. The crop production department in Sanford provides a full range of agronomy services including custom application of dry and liquid fertilizer and chemicals, soil testing, wholesale and retail sales of fertilizer and chemicals, application equipment rental, custom blending and NH3 outlets at Rozel, Burdett and Sanford.
