Nebraska's winter wheat crop is maturing at a rapid pace because of this year's unusually warm spring, so harvest will happen early in the state.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln wheat breeding expert Steve Baenziger says this is the earliest he's seen wheat mature in his 26 years.

The USDA says about 81 percent of the wheat crop is already headed out. So in southeast Nebraska, farmers will likely be harvesting their wheat in late May instead of around July 4.

Baenziger says it's too soon to say whether this year is a fluke or not.

Nebraska just didn't see any of the usual cold snaps or spring snowstorms that usually slow wheat development.