Recent weather patterns have sidelined combines as producers wait to harvest wheat.

Mature wheat acreage that remains unharvested could become vulnerable to sprouting, vomotoxins or other quality issues.

Hopefully some better grain harvesting days are ahead. While producers are waiting to harvest, it would be a good time for a final mechanical inspection of the combine.

The average combine used in this area is 25 years old and undoubtedly may need some parts replaced.

Combines used in this area are, for the most, part hauled in from the Midwest. Most have quite a few hours of operation and a lot of grain has run through them at this point.

However, in recent years a few local producers have purchased new or nearly new combines.

Producers who farm several hundred or possibly more than a couple thousand acres cannot afford to operate an old, partly worn-out combine.

Combines have changed a lot in recent years with new technology. Most are equipped with GPS, yield monitors and some even have auto-steer.

So, hopefully, producers are ready to go when harvest weather improves, regardless of the brand or age of their combines.

Deadline extended

Producers are being notified the FSA acreage reporting date has been extended until Aug. 2.

Farmers and landowners have an additional 18 days to submit their annual report of acreage to their local FSA county office with the deadline extended from today to Aug. 2.

Only the FSA reporting deadline has been extended.

Today’s deadline for the acreage reporting requirement for crop insurance has not changed.

Accurate acreage reports are necessary to determine and maintain eligibility for various USDA programs. Acreage reports for FSA are considered timely this year when filed at the county office by the new final crop reporting deadline of Aug. 2.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.