WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - The wheat harvest in Texoma is behind schedule due to early year drought and persistent rain, and the majority of the wheat produced in Wichita County is not harvestable.

Extreme weather swings aren’t just impacting this year’s crop; they’re also delaying planning and planting for next season.

“Early in the season we were extremely dry and during that time our older wheat that was planted earlier in the season suffered to the point where they were never able to come back after the rain started,“ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Wichita County extension agent farm expert Dwayne Peirce said.

More than 60% of the wheat crop is lost, leaving only about 40% harvestable.

Of that, just 15% to 20% is high enough quality to turn a profit.

Peirce said it’s been a tough season, with delays continuing to take a toll on producers.

“Any time we have rain during harvest, we’ve delayed our harvest schedule. This year we’ve had many rains that have accumulated to where usually we are through harvesting by now. In fact, a lot of times we’re through harvesting the first few days of June and here we are in the middle of June and still have half our acres to go,“ Peirce said.

If delays continue, more challenges could be on the way.

Lower yields mean less money in farmers’ pockets and less to reinvest in next year’s crop.

With yields already below average, Peirce says if there’s even a small window to harvest, farmers will take it.

“With rain in the forecast, if we can get in on the fields at all, farmers are going to do it. Which means we may be making some ruts, and you’ll have to work in muddy conditions, but it’s more important to get it out and get it sold than it is to leave it in the field rotting,“ Peirce said.