Saturday, May 31, 1997

Wheat harvest will be late this year

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

With this being the final day of May - and plenty of wheat still gradually ripening - there's no doubt wheat harvest will be a June affair this year.

Nervous farmers are watching the sky for storm clouds as harvest nears.

Marty Gibbs, Coleman County Extension agent (CEA), said wheat took it on the chin there from weeks of cloudy, rainy weather.

"Rust (disease) is really bad," Gibbs noted. "Wheat is behind in development."

Gibbs added that it has been too wet to plant cotton. But on a positive note, some grain sorghum is off to a great start.

Beth Dannheim, CEA at Fisher County, reports that wheat in the Roby and Rotan area is maturing nicely.

"Prospects are for a good to far-above-average crop," Dannheim said.

Dannheim also said that some farmers have begun planting cotton there.

Todd Vineyard, CEA in neighboring Jones County, noted moisture is adequate for cotton planting in that cotton-dependent county.

In the Sweetwater and Roscoe area, Zachary Wilcox, CEA for Nolan County, said cotton planting is getting under way. Plenty of moisture. But farmers were delayed in cotton planting while they've waited for soil temperatures to warm enough.

Chad Coburn of Ballinger said cotton planting is ongoing in Runnels County. The outlook also is good for grain sorghum.

On the downside there, some peach trees have a clear reduction in their fruit load as a result of the April freeze.

The Albany area is blessed with an excellent wheat crop.

Rocky Vinson, Shackelford County ag agent, said wheat has matured well without a lot of stress there. Wheat prospects are quite good.

Meanwhile, Vinson said cattle are in good to excellent condition.

Of course, Albany townspeople are busy getting ready for the renowned Fort Griffin Fandangle which runs six performances June 19-21 and June 26-28.

The show starts at dusk each evening under the stars at the Prairie Theatre just outside town. As is tradition, barbecue is available on the courthouse lawn in downtown prior to the big show.

Everyone at Albany has been working to make this 59th annual production the best ever.

For information on tickets or other activities surrounding the Fandangle, call Lisa Sanders at the Fandangle Office at (915) 762-3642. That's a local call from Abilene. Her office hours are Monday through Thursday each week, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.