Wheat harvest has begun in Douglas County, and early reports are that the crop may be well-above average.

Officials with the Baldwin Feed Co. reported that grain trucks began arriving early Wednesday morning with the area’s first loads of wheat. Steve Wilson, operator of the grain elevator, said yields were as high as 70 bushels per acre. Last year Douglas County farmers averaged 40 bushels per acre.

An employee at Ottawa Co-op’s South Lawrence elevator said the co-op received one small load of wheat Tuesday evening. It averaged just over 50 bushels per acre.

Grain elevator operators said they’re expecting more cutting to begin Wednesday, but said the bulk of the harvest likely won’t begin until Friday or Saturday.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Journal-World.