KIOWA ? The Kansas wheat harvest is under way with “just a sprinkling” of wheat coming in near Kiowa.

The O-K Co-op Grain elevator in Kiowa reported Monday it had received about 5,000 bushels of wheat from fields in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas.

Kiowa, which is in southern Kansas, is historically the first town in the state to start cutting wheat.

“We are looking forward to a good harvest,” said Mark Nunley, assistant manager at the elevator.

Early bushels coming in this past weekend have had good test weights, running about 61 pounds per bushel, he said.

“This year we have had exceptional weather for ripening and filling and it looks like it is going to pay off,” Nunley said.

As harvest begins, the OK Co-op elevator is almost completely empty — partly because of last year’s short harvest and partly in anticipation of this year’s crop, Nunley said.