Taking a Drive to Vernon, Texas

Kristy Misener – Misener Family Harvesters

Dan and I headed south to Vernon, Texas to see what condition the 2018 wheat crop was in.

We took the dirt roads, of course.  It’s the only way to see farms and not just traffic. It was a pleasant and pretty drive even though we didn’t see any combine-able wheat. In the last week there has been about a half-inch of rain, more or less, in each particular spot. That’s enough to green up grass and ditches.

Most of the wheat fields we saw were either sprayed or windrowed for hay, but a few were left for seed wheat (we’re guessing). These two fields are near Vernon and have been zeroed out.

Drought stricken wheat in Vernon, Texas 2018

Drought and late season freeze have taken a toll on the 2018 wheat crop in Vernon, TX.

It is hard to look at so many fields like these. Then, there are a few that look promising. We stopped and inspected the heads.

2018 wheat crop in Vernon, Texas

They are deceiving, too. The yellow one has no kernels. It just didn’t fill and can’t now. The next lightest one has started producing about 1/3 – 1/2 of its kernels. The green one has kernels but they’re small and doughy. Some cooler, wet weather would help immensely!!  All of these heads are from the same field.

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