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ROSS Despite a late start to planting and unseasonably cool temperatures throughout the growing season, early indications are that area farmers are enjoying a good harvest.

Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative at Ross confirms that quality and weights are excellent from what they have received from the fields thus far.

"Durum color is looking good. We've had some barley samples come in. All that we've seen has had good, heavy test weights and running maybe 70 to 80 bushels an acre," said Mike Brewer, Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative.

According to Brewer, the Ross facility has kept pretty busy during the morning hours. Farmers have been holding off harvesting until the morning dew dries from the fields and they've been working well into the night. Richard Gibbs is the grader for Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative.

"Barley does look like a very good crop," said Gibbs. "Protein in new durum has been really good and all with strong weights. Canola has been another very good crop. Not much dockage on it. Overall, I think it's a very good crop that's out there."

When asked about the fact that many crops didn't appear to be as tall as what is seen in most years, Gibbs acknowledged that fact but added that it didn't seem to be a factor.

"I don't think it matters," said Gibbs. "It's a plentiful crop and everything is pretty good. It's just too bad the prices are low."

The harvest in the Minot region is estimated to be only 10 to 20 percent complete. Farm trucks have been lined up this week at Minot's SunPrairie Grain facility, a sure indicator that a full harvest is under way.

"It's been pretty steady. They are coming in," said Jeremy Burkhart, SunPrairie Grain. "There's a lot of bushels out there and good quality spring wheat. The average protien is 13.7."

According to Burkhart, 14 percent protien is considered good for spring wheat. Canola received at Sun Prairie has been running about 2,000 pounds per acre. Fourteen-hundred pounds per acre is generally considered a good yield.

Harvest has been under way in the Bottineau area for several days as well, with most of the barley already off the fields. Now farmers are getting going in earnest on other crops.

"They are just getting into spring wheat. The winter wheat is basically done," said Steve Brandt, Bottineau Farmer's Elevator. "I'd guess the canola is about half done. We've got a good crop here. Things look pretty good."

To date, the weather has been close to ideal for harvest. Rain has stayed away and temperatures during the key afternoon harvest hours have not been too hot. According to the National Weather Service, the cooperative conditions will continue for a few more days. Daytime highs are expected to reach the low to mid-80s. The next mention of rain in the forecast is a 20 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms on Labor Day.