This year’s wheat harvest got underway in areas of Perkins County over the July 4th holiday weekend. Frenchman Valley took their first load of wheat in on Friday, July 2. Activity picked up on July 4, when the elevator took in 97 loads of wheat. The maturity of this year’s crop has varied, depending on when the fall crop was planted and how well it came up in the dry conditions prevalent at the time. Early reports indicate test weights in the range of 58-62 lbs. per bushel with protein running from 10-12% on average. Above, Quinten Clark unloads wheat from a hopper-bottom trailer at FVC Tuesday morning.