Hays Police are investigating several reports of residential theft from earlier this week.

According to Lt. Ron Rounkles, “A red Crafstman lawnmower was stolen out of the alley behind a home in the 1300 Block of Western Plains the night of June 23.

An antique metal hand pump was stolen from the yard in the 500 Block of Mission Mount between June 21^st and 24^th and railroad ties were reportedly taken from the front yard of a home in the 1300 block Lawrence Street.”

A special fundraiser to help pay medical costs for Longtime Ellis resident Celeste Johnson will be held this weekend in Ellis.  Johnson needs a kidney transplant.

The Full Schedule  of  events includes

After battling the autoimmune disorder lupus for years, Johnson entered end stage renal failure in 2008.  She’s been undergoing dialysis in Hays since then.

Johnson was at the top of the transplant list a year ago but the Via Christi hospital in Wichita suspended its program last July following the deaths of four transplant patients.

“Johnson  is currently  third on the kidney transplant list at K-U Medical Center in Kansas City.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) recently recognized Harold Kraus, Hays, for his outstanding efforts in advancing the biodiesel industry. Kraus has served as the

primary representative for the Kansas Soybean Commission (KSC) on the NBB for 12 years and is retiring from the position.

“Harold has been a tremendous advocate for the biodiesel industry who will definitely be missed,” NBB CEO Joe Jobe said. “The industry has grown out of infancy to a billion-gallon industry due in large part to the efforts of champions like Mr. Kraus.”

NBB presented Kraus with a Friend of Biodiesel award June 11 at a membership meeting in Washington, D.C.

“Any time your peers pat you on the back you have to feel better,” Kraus said. “When I came on board, there were 55 members. Now, we’re in the hundreds. We’ve got a good number of people, and they’re doing their job.”

Biodiesel is made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources, such as soybean oil, animal fats and recycled cooking oil. It is the first and only “advanced biofuel,” as designated by the Environmental Protection Agency, that is produced on a commercial scale across the United States. It is produced in nearly every state in the country and is used in existing diesel engines without modifying them. In 2012, the biodiesel industry produced more than 1 billion gallons, supporting about 50,000 jobs across the country.

“From the start, the soybean checkoff has played a major role in developing the U.S. biodiesel industry, and soybean farmers like Harold have invested a lot of time, energy and resources into bringing American-made, high-performing biodiesel to the marketplace,” said Dennis Hupe, KSC director of field services. “The award never can express fully the thanks that Harold deserves for his dedication to the development of the biodiesel industry.”

Combines are running from Norton to Marshall counties along the Nebraska border, as the 2013 harvest gets into the second big week of harvesting.

Midland Marketing in Hays believed that many farmers in this area are finishing their harvest. They thought that 80% of the wheat adjacent to town was cut and yields were varied from 5 -50 bushels an acre with an average of 25 -30.

The staff at Golden Belt in Ellis also believe harvest was past the half way point and the most recent yields averaged 25 bushels an acre.

At Cargill in Trego County, Caleb told Hays Post, “I don’t think harvest is at the half way. There is a lot more to come in from the north and northwest area of the county. We have taken in approximately 300,000 bushels in the WaKeeny elevator so far.”

Ag Valley Co-op in Norton has seen scattered activity in the last few days, with just a few thousand bushels of wheat taken in. The crop so far has 55-56 pound test weights, but it is too early for yield and protein information. Many fields still have green cast to them, but harvest should get into full swing by early next week.

Travis Mason, manager of the Southeast Nebraska Co-op location in Herkimer, says farmers are bringing in wheat in northern Marshall County. Test weights are 60 pounds or higher, and yields are in excess of 60 bushels per acre. No protein values have been received yet.

Highway 14 seems to be a dividing line for good yields and quality, according to Jeff Bechard, president of AgMark, LLC in Beloit. The company markets grain for 20 elevators from Cawker City east to Leonardville, and Westfall north to Jewell. Wednesday was the first day that the entire area had good harvest conditions. Yields range mostly from 35 to 65 bushels per acre, with the better wheat in the eastern side of Hwy. 14; protein ranges from 9 to 11 east of Hwy. 14 and 11 to 14 west of Hwy. 14. About 25% of the crop is harvested in AgMark’s trade area, and Bechard expects this crop to be above average in terms of total bushels received.

Duane Reif, manager at the United Ag Service location in Hoisington, says the area harvest is about 50% complete. Test weights at the Hoisington location range from 56 to 62 pounds per bushel, protein from 13 to 16 and yields range from 20 to 50 bushels per acre. At the company’s Stickney location just 10 miles north, test weights average above 60 pounds per bushel and yields range from 40 to 60 bushels per acre.

Doug Johnson, manager of the Scott Cooperative location in Marienthal, says harvest just got started on Monday. At 60 pounds per bushel on average, test weight is a bit better than he expected, but yields are poor, ranging from 15 to 20 bushels per acre. In isolated cases where showers fell last fall, some farmers report 30 bushel per acre yields. However, much of the area’s crop has been destroyed. Johnson says early protein tests show 11.7 protein, but will probably improve as harvest continues. This location will take in about 35% of an average crop.

The 2013 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and sponsors Kansas City Board of Trade, and the Kansas Grain & Feed Association.