Oklahoma Wheat Crop Showing Some Positive Signs

Associated Press

ENID, OK -- Wheat farmers in Oklahoma say the crop has taken a beating -- but is showing some positive signs.

The harvest is well under way in some parts of the state while just getting started in areas such as Enid.

Waukomis Cooperative manager James Wilson says farmers there have been cutting for about 10 days and are getting from 18 to 30 bushels an acre.

Wheat production has been inconsistent in recent years.

Last year a total of 166.5 million bushels were harvested compared to 98 million bushels in 2007 and 81.6 million in 2006.

The 2006 crop was devastated by drought while the crop last year was in good shape until a freeze in April then heavy rains at harvest kept many farmers out of their fields.