Rugby area producers are about three weeks into the small grains harvest, and early indications show the makings of a great wheat crop.

“It’s been a good harvest…we’ve been yielding well and the protein levels are better than last year,’ according to Kipp Johnson, Rugby area farmer.

That’s particularly encouraging news, since last year low protein levels put a damper on an otherwise good crop.

Carter Medalen, Farmers Union Oil Company agronomist, added he’s been hearing the later wheat crop is showing lesser yields, but better protein.

Wheat prices have improved recently and with the prospects of better protein levels farmers are in a better position for selling their crop this year.

The canola harvest is about a week old and early indications also show a good yields. Medalen figures there is about week to 10 days of field work remaining to complete the small grains harvest, weather permitting.

Overall, the weather conditions for the harvest have been decent, although some farmers have had to contend with some wet conditions which has meant they needed to dry their crops.

The attention will soon shift to row crops, and Johnson pointed out soybeans, sunflowers and corn are looking good, thanks to ideal growing conditions which provided the right combination of moisture and heat during the growing season.

“I’d say the corn is about two weeks ahead of last year and sunflowers are past the flowering stage,’ Johnson said. “It will be a nice to get into the fields in late September rather than November.”

Perhaps the only concern at this stage is with the sunflowers and the potential for sclerotinia to take hold as a result of damp conditions at the flowering stage.