Harvest USA Report

Interview Overview: The conversation mainly revolves around the agricultural state in Great Bend, Kansas, notably addressing concerns about weather conditions affecting farming activities. Zeb Hughes discusses his locality, citing the dry conditions and absence of moisture that have negatively impacted wheat crops, with some fields suffering freeze damage.
Wheat and Moisture Issues: The interview highlights the struggles with insufficient rainfall, which threaten wheat production in the area. Some growers have already begun repurposing lands toward fall crops due to the damage.
Alternative Crops: The discussion extends to the types of fall crops being planted, such as milo (sorghum), dryland corn, irrigated corn, and beans. The schedule for planting these crops is contingent on moisture availability, with the anticipation of planting soon.

Let's take a look at where our harvest crews are and what's going on in preparation for this 2026 season.
 
BT Harvesting writes that their next five crew members have officially arrived. For them, the next few days will be filled with paperwork, introductions, getting settled in the campers, and finding their way around the shop. There'll be a big learning curve, but there's no doubt they'll take it all in stride. Good or bad, harvest will be here before we know it.
 
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is hiring an education specialist to bring hands-on agriculture lessons to students across western Nebraska. This role connects youth to farming, ranching, and food in a fun and interactive way. You must reside within western Nebraska because frequent daytime travel is required.
 
This week's Oklahoma wheat crop update shows the crop is under real stress. Statewide 54% of Oklahoma wheat is rated poor to very poor while 12% is rated good to excellent. Drought remains widespread across 98% of all the state with the toughest conditions in southern and western Oklahoma and the panhandle. But there is still a fight left in this crop. Many acres still have potential if we can get timely moisture. OSU Extension specialists are urging producers to keep scouting because not every yellow field is just drought. Afids, mites, and wheat viruses are also showing up. So now is the time to check stressed areas, field edges, and stay in touch with your county extension office. Keep scouting, keep the faith, and keep praying for rain.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/RrGbNBqXVLo.
 
Times are tough out there, and suicide rates among farmers are higher than the national average. But now new research shows that online therapy can help with farmers mental health. Please see our post from successful farming on our Harvest USA Facebook page. 

Bad news for Colorado in 100% drought right now with extreme and exceptional conditions surging rapidly. Low snowpack, heat and dry soils are raising major concerns for farmers heading into the 2026 growing season.
 
 
Over the weekend we also celebrated Happy National Nebraska where we take the day to celebrate the wonder that it is the 37th state. Nebraska has a diverse and scenic landscape and a rich history.
 
According to the Fence Post, producers surveyed across the U.S. and tend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2026 down 3% from last year.
 
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Sandhills Task Force in Nebraska is hiring. Are you or someone you know interested in working as an outreach coordinator? This role focuses on developing, implementing and leading outreach efforts that build understanding of Sandhills ranching, cultures, conversation and economics among land stewards, partners and the public.
 
 
Be sure to follow our Facebook page where you can see all the stories that we talk about on the radio. And in fact, here's one from Young Farmers, "There isn't a lack of food. There is a lack of justice for those who produce it." A good thought.

Davis Custom Harvesting is one of those that need help. Competitive rates, reliable service, and fast efficient harvesting find that post from Davis Custom Harvesting on our HarvestUSA Facebook page. Van Dreisten Harvesting is also hiring, but they just posted yesterday that he is not here, for He has risen. As He said, come see where the place where He lay. A great reminder of what happened yesterday with Easter Sunday from Matthew 28:6.
 
Looking to see where crews are working already, and it looks like Twin Pine Farm is busy planting potatoes out there in York, Pennsylvania.
 
For those who are feeling a little fruity today, one acre of land can grow a variety of crops, including how many pounds of strawberries do you think? One acre can grow up to 50,000 pounds of strawberries. Nice little ag fact from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
 
As Neumiller Harvesting prepares for the new season, they wrote that the best part of having a small crew right now is trying out new recipes. "We have a few new guys already here and more to come," they wrote. Our weather isn't sure if it's spring or winter, but the guys are still preparing for the harvest season, that's at Neumiller Harvesting.
 
The USDA is gathering vital stats across all 50 states to help shape the future of local and organic food systems nationwide. If you produce or sell local food, make sure your operation is counted. Put yourself on the map. Take the local survey. Due by June 30th. You can find that survey on our Harvest USA Report Facebook page under US Department of Agriculture pinned at the top.

Alan Roland from Hemingford, Nebraska discusses the impact of fires, which have occurred nearby in the Sandhills region but have not directly affected his location.
The conversation explores planting activities, noting that early attempts at seeding typically occur in mid-April, and how weather influences farming schedules. Variable weather patterns cause delays or impact the condition of harvests, with the possibility of late frosts or unexpected snow affecting crops like oats, barley, and wheat. The discussion also mentions hay production challenges due to inconsistent rain patterns and temperature conditions.
Roland relays that current economic circumstances in agriculture are challenging, particularly referencing the high cost of fertilizer, which has nearly doubled. This economic strain complicates decisions about planting more crops. Moreover, there is uncertainty about heading south for harvesting due to dry conditions and poor grazing prospects, especially in regions like Oklahoma and Texas. The broadcasting host reflects on the unchanged nature of farmers' commodity pricing over the years, lamenting the lack of alignment between production costs and crop prices.

If you know a farm family who needs help getting their crop in the ground, please refer them today to Farm Rescue. If you want to be part of keeping farms operating in 2026, please consider a donation.
This is what neighbors helping neighbors looks like. Every acre matters. Refer a family, fund a field, and keep farms going.
"Mother Nature's a unforgiving person thing. She really can be something... three buildings, four grain bins, house, and everything I own, everything. I'll make it. I'll figure something out. My neighbor, Dan Fuller, had seen something on TV about it or a line about it and was reading into it and stuff. And you guys seem like an awesome chance. It's awesome. I mean it really is. They're going to be planting Corn and Soybeans for me. It's hard to come up with a kind of cash to go out and buy a planter. And this time of year it's almost impossible to find one. This will help me a bunch. Doing great. I'm very appreciative of that too. I mean I got nothing. No planter, nothing. It's a wrong time of year to have this happen to. Bad timing. I got a lot of other stuff to clean up but it's going to be a while. I just want to get something on the ground. You've got to get some kind of revenue and build up something. And you guys are saving the day. You really are. Thank you very much for everything. I mean I can't put in the words. This is awesome."
Some incredible organizations like Farm Rescue that are helping out. Also there are resources available through the USDA and through each one of the state's departments of agriculture. Please check with them locally to find out what resources there are to help you recover from recent disasters. Find resources like these on our agricultural search engine, agsearch.us. 

And that's a wrap, says Kiowa Honey Company.
Kiowa Honey Company is located in two locations, both California and Nebraska, and they wrote, "spring has sprung early. With no bee food left in the valley and farmers planning to spray oranges, the bees must be moved. Where to, you ask? To the coast. With any luck, we will make some sage, honey, or wildflower, whatever the bees find. And if they don't make enough to harvest, they will still eat to satisfy themselves and prepare for Nebraska. We are praying for big spring rains in Nebraska, not just for our own honey crop, but to provide some relief for the people of Nebraska.
We sincerely appreciate companies with good morals, ideas, and standards. Kiowa Honey Company is one of those, along with another one called Seven Weeks Coffee. If you haven't heard of it, it's a simple idea. What if a coffee could save lives? Turns out it can. 10% of every sale from Seven Weeks Coffee is donated to pregnancy centers around the United States.
Attention truckers, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture says we have hay ready to move. There's a list of donations available for pickup. That's on the nda.nebraska.gov website under Disaster Resources. To further assist those affected by the recent wildfires, the Nebraska Trucking Association has created the Nebraska Trucking Heroes Wildfires Relief Fund. Anyone willing to haul hay and eating capacity, who helps transport relief supplies, can give support to offset the high cost of fuel. This stipend offers 50 cents a mile, up to 500 miles per trip. To learn more on how to apply for these funds, find that post from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture on our Facebook page at Harvest USA Report.