Transcribed from Fox34.com
Producers are saying their winter wheat is doing better this year and they're hoping to make a good profit.
Steve Johnson out of Olton, TX has been growing wheat for 42 years. He planted in September and plans to harvest in March. Johnson says it's looking good currently because his farm received about 2 inches of rain throughout November and December.
"This has been a good year of wheat production. Mother Nature has helped us a lot," said Johnson.
Johnson says that rain has helps much because water is a tight commodity. That's why winter wheat helps his operation. It takes less irrigation to grow than summer crops.
"West Texas has been in a pretty substantial drought. So our irrigation — our water supply during this whole entire time — is decreasing year to year," said Johnson.
Johnson grows the wheat for cattle grazing through March. Then he has to decide what's next.
Johnson said, "We can choose whether we want to continue to graze some more, graze the wheat on out, or we will turn and make the choice to make grain out of it and we'll harvest that."
He's optimistic that by March he will be able to sell his cattle for beef production, make a good profit there and then harvest the wheat. Johnson explains that would be a big win because it gives a farmer hope for the future after a successful year.
"We would be optimistic as far as the ability to gross a certain amount of money off the land that we're farming," said Johnson.
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