Wheat harvest has officially begun, says Kansas Wheat.

Harvest, as it perennially does, started near Kiowa in Barber County when OK Coop took in 35 truckloads of wheat.

The Day 1 Harvest Report from Kansas Wheat reported yields ranging from 40 to 57 bushels per acre and test weights averaging 61 pounds.

In west-central Kansas, estimates are that a third of the yields has been lost to heat, high winds and drought. One field yielded only 29 bushels to the acre with test weights a little over 56 pounds.

Kansas Wheat also reported that harvest has begun in southeast Kansas, with Cherokee County reporting yields of around 50 bushels and test weights of 59 pounds.

All across the southern tier of counties, at least test-cutting has started and harvest is expected to get going in earnest over the weekend, barring a rain event.

Kansas Wheat will be issuing daily harvest reports throughout the season.

Some of the best yields in the state are expected to come from south-central Kansas where a lot of test cutting is being done and harvest is gaining momentum. One small field cut Wednesday in Cowley County yielded 57 bushels to the acre with test weights at 62 pounds.