Hayden on Harvest: South Texas wheat harvest resumes after hail and rain delays

Custom harvesting crews in South Texas continued wheat harvest operations despite muddy field conditions, hail damage and scattered equipment repairs during the 2026 season.

Operators spent part of the day completing 50-hour maintenance intervals on combines before returning to the field. Maintenance included greasing bearings, feeder house components, rear discharge beaters, unload augers and header assemblies.

Crews also repaired a pulley assembly on one combine before harvest resumed.

Harvesters reported moisture levels remained below the 13.5% threshold needed to continue cutting wheat in South Texas conditions.

Some wheat fields harvested during the day produced significantly below normal yields following drought and hail damage earlier in the season. One field yielded roughly 10 bushels per acre in some areas, according to combine monitor readings.

Crews said straw yields in those fields were also limited, making baling operations difficult after harvest.

Later in the day, operators moved to another field that had sustained hail damage. Despite crop loss, crews estimated the field still averaged about 20 bushels per acre. They said the field likely would have produced 45 to 50 bushels per acre without hail damage.

Wet conditions also created challenges during field moves. One combine became stuck in muddy ground near a pivot irrigation system while crews were relocating equipment between fields. The machine was later recovered and harvest operations resumed.

Operators noted that rainfall and standing water have complicated field access throughout the South Texas wheat harvest season. Earlier storms delivered hail and heavy rain to several fields in the region.

Despite the setbacks, crews continued moving between fields to complete harvest before additional weather delays arrive.