This is Day 13 of the 2012 Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas City Board of Trade, the Kansas Grain & Feed Association, the Kansas Wheat Commission and Kansas Association of Wheat Growers.

While farmers are working to bring in the 2012 wheat crop, the USDA on Tuesday forecasted the Kansas crop at 387 million bushels, unchanged from the May estimate but 40% more than the 2011 crop. If realized, this would be the highest production since 2003. Farmers are expected to harvest an average 43 bushels per acre from 9 million acres in Kansas. 

David Schemm, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers President, says combines are rolling in the Sharon Springs area as the winds have been drying down the wheat quickly. His crop has had average yields of 35 bushels per acre, with test weights averaging 61 pounds per bushel and protein of 13.1. Schemm has been surprised by the yields coming from early fields and is excited to get to his better wheat later this week.

Farmers in Greeley County have been going strong since Saturday, according to Tammy Hild at the Tribune Grain, LLC. The crop is below average in yield, total bushels and quality, as test weights average 58 pounds per bushels and protein, 11.5. Hild expects the crop to improve as progress heads into the northern part of the county.

Kansas Wheat Commissioner Mike McClellan, Palco, is about two thirds done with harvest. So far, his crop has averaged 38 bushels per acre, with test weights ranging from 60 to 62 pounds per bushel. McClellan says the varieties Armour and Hawken have been his best performers this year.

Shane Ohlde, certified seed grower from Palmer, says the wheat in Clay and Washington counties has performed well, with yields averaging between 50 and 60 bushels per acre and test weights, 61 to 64 pounds. Ohlde says the varieties Cedar and Everest are top performers, while a three-way blend of Everest, Armour and Hitch has also been very solid.

Wheat has been steadily rolling into Cargill's North Topeka facility, according to company spokespersons. About 50% of the fields from Topeka north to Highway 36 are harvested, with farmers reporting yields of about 55 bushels per acre on average. Test weights average 60 pounds per bushel, with protein averaging 10.5 to 11. Rain Monday morning slowed harvest progress a bit, although it was picking up Tuesday afternoon.

The 2012 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and sponsors Kansas City Board of Trade, and the Kansas Grain & Feed Association.