Wheat Farmers Need Dry Weather

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma wheat farmers are hoping the rain will stop at least long enough for them to finish harvesting what appears to be a very good crop.

Butch Meibergen of Johnston Grain in Enid says yields in his area are ranging from 40 to 60 bushels an acre. And Jeff Bedwell with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in Garfield County says some farmers could see 70 bushels an acre.

This year's crop is a marked improvement over 2006 when drought devastated the wheat and last year when too much rain, freeze damage and disease hurt the harvest.

The latest forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts a harvest of 157.5 million bushels compared to 98 million last year.

Grain elevator operators say all that's needed is a few dry days so the wheat can be harvested but the National Weather Service is predicting a chance for rain through Thursday.