PLATTE COUNTY – Wheat harvest season in Platte County has taken an early turn this year, as many local producers are cutting their crops weeks ahead of schedule. Facing a triple threat of depressed market prices, volatile summer weather and operational limitations, farmers say early cutting has become less of a choice and more of a necessity.
Local wheat producers cut early
Although it’s not ideal, it’s the best of a tough set of options according to local wheat producer Chuck Maike. He farms just south of Wheatland and normally harvests wheat in mid-to-late August, but this year he cut the grain crop in early July. One of the concerns is lower yields and lower prices, in addition to the massive amount of hail damage recent storms brought in and are forecasted to bring in, which is why Maike said it just makes sense to cut early and preserve what he could.
“We’re about a month ahead on our winter wheat harvest this year due to unusually hot and dry conditions both this season and last,” Maike said. “We also had little-to-no snow cover this winter, which sped up maturity.”
He added, “These weather patterns pushed the crop through its stages faster than normal.”
“It’s not ideal,” Maike explained. “But it’s the reality we are working with.”
Maike also said he will be planting winter wheat this fall, but doesn’t expect it will be any sooner than normal.
“I expect a little bit of a shortcoming in production this year… I have farmed wheat south of town for 15 years – I would say we are slightly drier than normal circumstances.”
Several other Platte County wheat producers also said they cut early for the same or similar reasons and that it’s a trend they are keeping a watchful eye on. Wheat farmer Jeb Baker also cut about a month earlier than usual also. Other wheat producers said this years’ weather really took a toll on their crop, making large portions of the crop unusable, other than for local use.
However, many are hopeful the recent rains and consistent moisture could be enough to pull the region out of a drought to where crop yield next year and after the fall’s winter wheat crop, could yield much higher results.
Prices falling short of profit margins
Wheat prices have hovered around $4.22 to $4.27 per bushel this past week in Wyoming, according to Farm Bucks grain market data. For Hard Red Winter Wheat, that’s a price point many say is too low to cover input costs, much less turn a profit.
If you’re harvesting 30 bushels an acre at $4.25, that’s only about $127,500 gross for a 1,000-acre field. When you factor in diesel, labor, equipment wear and transport, it’s just not penciling out.
The economic pressure has led several producers to abandon plans for a full harvest. Instead, some are baling wheat for hay or opening fields to grazing cattle—alternatives that offer less labor and lower risk.
Storms and drought: a risky forecast
Another major factor pushing early harvests is the erratic July weather. This week alone, the region has faced cloudy conditions, damaging wind advisories and thunderstorms capable of bringing hail and flooding. Forecasters expect temperatures to climb into the upper 90s by the weekend.
“Once hail hits your wheat, you’re done,” said Mary Peterson, who farms east of Chugwater. “We’re trying to get it cut before the next round of storms rolls through. You don’t want to watch a whole year’s work destroyed in one afternoon.”
Wet ground conditions have also made it difficult for equipment to access fields. Many producers report stalled harvests due to soggy soils, fearing heavy combines could get stuck or damage the land.
Barriers beyond the weather
In addition to economic and weather pressures, farmers in Platte County face challenges related to irrigation and water access. Many rely on shallow wells or local reservoirs, which can dip to critical levels by mid-summer.
“Water availability plays a big role in crop timing,” said a representative from the Platte County Resource Conservation District. “If you can’t irrigate consistently through July and August, early cutting becomes a strategic move.”
Crop insurance also influences harvest decisions. In some cases, producers can recoup more through insurance claims or alternative uses of the crop than they would from a full harvest under current market conditions.
Changing traditions, preserving viability
For many producers, the decision to cut early reflects a broader shift in how wheat farming is managed in Wyoming’s High Plains.
Several wheat producers echoed a similar sentiment in saying, “Thirty years ago, cutting early would’ve seemed like giving up – now, it’s just smart business.”
And while early harvesting may limit top-end yields, farmers say it helps protect future productivity by avoiding soil compaction, preserving topsoil integrity and keeping operations flexible for next year’s crop rotation.
Ultimately, local wheat producers said sometimes a farmer has got to pivot their plans, and the goal is still to keep the farm going, feed local communities and survive long enough to plant again in the next season.
Looking ahead
With wheat prices showing little sign of significant rebound and weather extremes becoming more common, many in the region expect early cutting to remain a growing trend.
Ultimately, Platte County local wheat producers say you have to adapt to survive – that’s what Wyoming farmers do.
