Harvest USA Report

HUSA Jun 18 2026 - Slick Sanders

Co-host David Woodruff has Slick Sanders on the phone. David had just asked Slick about how things turned out.
 
"This is probably the best year we've had in several years."
 
So that's for cotton or for everything?
 
"Well everything's been pretty good. I mean as a whole even the dryland milo made a little bit. Irrigated milo was good and a lot of these farmers they're starting to plant, keep them stubble, keep the stalks, the milo stalks and they spray it and keep it clean and those hold moisture if we get any snow if we do. And then they'll plant cotton in that stubble just like we do cutting wheat. We leave stubble and they'll plant cotton in that stubble. That cotton is protected from the weather and it keeps the ground from blowing. But they're finding that planting cotton in milo stalks they're getting two or three hundred pounds more lint by doing that. And I don't know why the reason other than the protection and maybe something to do with all the nodules and the roots of the milo keeps the ground a little softer. I don't I don't know but there's there's some benefits and they're seeing it and they're starting to do that. But when you plant that milo in a cover crop like that I mean the cotton when it's little it needs protection from the weather and the wind and it tries to grow really fast to get to the top of that cover crop so it can get to the Sun. So it speeds up the growing process of the cotton."
 
That's interesting.
 
"In places where they don't grow wheat much they can grow milo and use that for cover."
 
Floydada, Texas Custom Harvester, Slick Sanders. 
 

HUSA Jun 17 2026 - Slick Sanders

Co-host David Woodruff has Slick Sanders on the phone. Let's see how Slick's doing with the wheat rat report.
 
How are things down there?
 
"We're through with pretty much all the milo harvest and corn harvest and basically almost all the cottons out of the field. They're still ginning on it. That's what we're doing right now, just hauling cottonseed."
 
You pick cotton, do you?
 
"No, sir. We just haul the cottonseed from the cotton gins to the oatmeal. Then they take the oil out of the seed? Yes, sir. They press that seed and get the oil out and they get more lint off the seed and they turn that cottonseed into cottonseed meal and then they take the cottonseed hulls.
 
That's all for cattle, you know, and so they use a lot of the cottons. So that cottonseed meal, that's a protein supplement, is that right? I believe so. I mean, they mix it in feed and the hulls as well and they feed raw cottonseed to cattle.
 
That's good protein feed too. So do you have any idea what the protein content is?
 
"No, I don't. I really don't. We just haul the seed to the oatmeal basically and then a lot of seed goes to dairies and flat storage, you know, to sell out later in the summer to dairies and feedlots and what have you. I got an idea that the protein in the meal will be a little bit higher than in the seed because of what they've taken out of the seed. Well, it's my understanding too, and they take the meat out of the cottonseed and they do something, cook it, I guess they make flour out of it or what, you know, but of course the oil, you can actually buy the oil from the oatmeal there for cooking oil."
 
Floydada, Texas Custom Harvester, Slick Sanders. 
 
 

HUSA Jun 16 2026 - Jake Damron

HUSA Jun 15 2026 - Oklahoma Update

It has been a strange season with a very short run in Texas, but gettin' 'er done is Farris Harvesting who was there and now they're moving up into the panhandle of Oklahoma where they did get some moisture. That's Farris Harvesting. Yields though in Texas, some people were reporting 50 to 60 bushel.
 
Sanders Harvesting and Trucking has a wheat rat report for us. Slick wrote, we finished a little wheat run last night here at home in Floydada, Texas. That was on the 10th. Praise the Lord for having a little wheat to cut even though it wasn't very good yields. Farmers cutting some only making 5 to 6 bushel just to have some seed wheat. We did cut a few irrigated circles that yielded 16 to 25 he wrote. New certified registered seed may cost up to $27 a bushel. We will be cleaning up equipment and getting ready to load up and head to Kansas next stop. We'll give all the glory to God for what we had. And Slick wishes everyone a blessed day. That's Sanders Harvesting and Trucking out of Floydada, Texas moving up into Oklahoma now. 
 
Speaking of the Oklahoma wheat harvest, it's moving fast but low harvested acres, drought stress and recent rains are shaping what producers and elevators are seeing across the state.
 
In the latest Oklahoma wheat crop update from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Dave Deken reports from Kingfisher County with the latest USDA NASS crop condition numbers as well as Oklahoma Wheat Commission harvest estimates, yield reports, test weights, rainfall totals and drought conditions. Also features Lad Lafferty, president of the Wheeler Brothers Grain and a sister brother harvest crew from Beckham County working fields near Amarita and Alfalfa County as Oklahoma farmers push through a challenging 2026 harvest. 
 
Catch that Oklahoma Wheat report on our Facebook page at Harvest USA Report.

HUSA Jun 12 2026 - Jake Damron

The interview primarily discusses the agricultural activities and challenges faced by Jake Damron from Sayre, Oklahoma. He shares insights on planting cotton in dry conditions and explains the complexities of timing rainfall with planting. Damron prefers planting cotton in moisture to ensure a good stand because wrong rain can compact the soil, making it hard for seedlings. He discusses the process of planting into summer fallow using wheat stubble from previous successful crops. The discussion also highlights methods like strip tillage for preparing seed beds by ripping rows and placing fertilizers deep in the soil to avoid compaction.
Agricultural Techniques and Weed Control
Jake detailed the weed control strategy using chemical fallow, primarily involving the application of Power Max Roundup and dicamba, given that most cotton is dicamba-resistant. This approach is supplemented by the use of a pre-emergent product called Warrant to control grasses effectively. The reliance on rain to activate certain chemicals poses additional challenges in weed management. Additionally, the role of summer fallow is emphasized in preventing soil crusting from rain, which is a key concern in conventional tillage.
 

HUSA Jun 11 2026 - Sarah Nicholson

Sarah Nicholson, part of Damron Farms and Harvesting, shares her journey of returning to the custom wheat harvesting tradition after a 12-year hiatus. Her father, Jack Damron, established the family business in Sayre, Oklahoma over four decades ago, running it for 38 years. Though they hadn't been on the wheat harvest run for over a decade, the urge to revive this tradition led Sarah and her brother to acquire a combine trailer and venture back into harvesting, securing a 1,000-acre job in Colorado. They find satisfaction and financial viability with a simple setup—two combines, a grain cart, and a minimal crew, often including family members.
Impact and Collaboration in Harvesting
The revival of the harvesting tradition holds personal significance, extending to younger family members who join the effort and grow through the experience. Sarah shares how the harvesting runs instill work ethic and initiative in her children, reflecting on the transformative nature of the hands-on work. Despite challenges such as balancing the main farming occupation with custom harvesting and external uncertainties like climate conditions, the family is motivated by nostalgia and a love for the lifestyle. Collaboration among family members and the shared goal of efficient operation with limited overhead underscores their continued passion for harvesting.
Media Engagement and Community Outreach
Sarah Nicholson's engagement with platforms like Facebook to promote their services emphasizes the importance of community outreach and adaptation to modern communication channels in rural businesses. Hale Broadcasting's Harvest USA report supports such enterprises by providing a platform for voices in the harvesting industry, highlighting the importance of representation for women and small-scale operators. This initiative aims to bring positive visibility to diverse perspectives within the agricultural sector, acknowledging the role of family dynamics and passion in sustaining traditional practices.
 
 

HUSA Jun 10 2026 - Glen Jones

Glen Jones from Greenfield, Iowa, discusses his experiences with wheat harvesting in Oklahoma. Many farms are experiencing severe reduction in yields, with some areas receiving as low as four bushels per acre. Glen's farmer had a slightly better yield of 18 bushels per acre, but overall, more than 50% of the wheat in the area is expected to be abandoned. Despite low yields, the wheat maintains a good test weight of approximately 59 pounds, though protein content remains low, typically in the 10% range, with a few exceptions of higher protein on later farms.
There's a stark contrast in weather experiences, as Glen notes that while Oklahoma experiences drought, areas in central Saskatchewan are battling excessive mud. This has impacted planting and harvesting schedules, complicating farmers' ability to manage their crops effectively. Southern Kansas, where Glen is moving next, has received recent rain, offering some hope for a more average crop yield, though this has delayed milo planting.
Glen also comments on reduced operations in local trailer parks, indicating a downturn in harvesting activity in the area. Many crews have reduced their equipment and personnel, reflecting a broader reduction in wheat harvest operations. Glen mentions he's set to return home to Iowa after completing work in Kansas, preparing for a trip to visit his daughter in Alaska. He underscores the economic challenges, noting that despite reduced wear on equipment due to less work, financial obligations remain unchanged.
This text captures the hardships faced by farmers due to adverse weather conditions and the consequential adjustments in their operational decisions.

HUSA Jun 9 2026 - Glen Jones

Glen Jones from Greenfield, Iowa, discusses his experiences with wheat harvesting in Oklahoma. Many farms are experiencing severe reduction in yields, with some areas receiving as low as four bushels per acre. Glen's farmer had a slightly better yield of 18 bushels per acre, but overall, more than 50% of the wheat in the area is expected to be abandoned. Despite low yields, the wheat maintains a good test weight of approximately 59 pounds, though protein content remains low, typically in the 10% range, with a few exceptions of higher protein on later farms.
There's a stark contrast in weather experiences, as Glen notes that while Oklahoma experiences drought, areas in central Saskatchewan are battling excessive mud. This has impacted planting and harvesting schedules, complicating farmers' ability to manage their crops effectively. Southern Kansas, where Glen is moving next, has received recent rain, offering some hope for a more average crop yield, though this has delayed milo planting.
Glen also comments on reduced operations in local trailer parks, indicating a downturn in harvesting activity in the area. Many crews have reduced their equipment and personnel, reflecting a broader reduction in wheat harvest operations. Glen mentions he's set to return home to Iowa after completing work in Kansas, preparing for a trip to visit his daughter in Alaska. He underscores the economic challenges, noting that despite reduced wear on equipment due to less work, financial obligations remain unchanged.
This text captures the hardships faced by farmers due to adverse weather conditions and the consequential adjustments in their operational decisions.