Co-ops report excellent wheat harvest
Marion elevator
sets new record
The three cooperatives with grain elevators in Marion County took in a large amount of wheat this season, although not as much as the 1997 record year. Managers report a few farmers still are harvesting but most of the crop is in the bin.
Although the crop was larger, the price is lower. Managers report a current price at about $2.60 per bushel. Last year at this time the price was more than $3.00.
Cooperative Grain and Supply has received a total of 2,953,699 bushels. The co-op owns five elevators and added another elevator at Canton this year. In 2002, the co-op took in 2,435,000 bushels. The price was above $3 per bushel. On Tuesday, it was $2.58.
Mike Thomas, manager at Marion, reported the elevator took in more this year than ever. It has received about 765,000 bushels, which is about 320,000 more than a year ago and 50,000 more than in 1997.
Agri-Producers, Inc. includes eight branch elevators. It took in 4,200,000 bushels, almost as much as in 1997, when it received 4,300,000 bushels. The co-op took in one and one-half million more bushels than a year ago. The price Tuesday was $2.61 compared with $3.25 a year earlier.
At Lincolnville, 100,000 bushels of wheat are piled on the ground. The elevator has received approximately 710,000 bushels compared to 478,000 bushels a year ago and 673,000 in 1997.
Mid-Kansas Cooperative is the largest grain co-op in the state. It is headquartered at Moundridge and has 40 elevators. Florence, Burns, Peabody, and Goessel became part of the co-op a year or so ago.
Mid-Kansas has taken in 17,624,000 bushels. Florence has received 328,000 bushels, a 53 percent increase over 2002. Burns has received almost 100,000 more bushels than a year ago but not as much as in 1997. The current price is $2.55.
Peabody manager, Chris Bielefeld reported receiving more than 600,000 bushels, considerably better than last year but not as good as in 1997.
