"Wheat usually needs stressful weather to pump protein into it," he said.

Comparing what had been received by Thursday morning to last year at this time, Prairie Lakes Coop Location Manager Tim Guza said the yields seem to be a bit better than last year, but cautioned reports are still early and the yields can change quickly.

As far as another popular Pope County crop, corn, Kvitek said the crop looks good from the road but rain is needed after a fairly dry July.

Guza said from what he has seen around the county, the corn fields seem to be spotty from one place to another.

"You look at some fields and they are just beautiful and you look at some others and they are spotty," said Guza.

Many Pope County farmers hit the fields and began harvesting wheat last week.