Over Half of Kansas Pastores Rated 'Very Poor'

By CnAgri Print

Last week, Kansas producers experienced another week of warm, windy, and dry weather. Only 7 of the 53 stations recorded any precipitation by Sunday, led by Parsons with 0.20 of an inch. Temperatures ranged from a low of 16 degrees at 3 stations to a high of 79 in Atwood. Kansas producers averaged 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork, with three districts, the Northwest, West Central, and South Central reporting 7.0 days suitable. Topsoil moisture supplies declined to 42 percent very short, 34 percent short, 24 percent adequate, and none surplus; while subsoil moisture supplies were 55 percent very short, 32 percent short, 13 percent adequate, and none surplus.

Ninety-seven percent of the Kansas wheat had emerged by week's end, identical to last year but slightly ahead of the 5-year average of 94 percent. The condition of the crop was 6 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 46 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Eighty-four percent of the cotton crop had been harvested as of Sunday, also identical to last year but well ahead of the 5-year average of 57 percent. Kansas producers had harvested 96 percent of their sunflowers by Sunday. This is ahead of both last year at 94 percent and the 5-year average of 89 percent.

Range and pasture condition was rated as 52 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 14 percent fair, and 4 percent good; continuing the worst range and pasture condition trend since the series started in 1995. Hay and forage supplies were rated as 34 percent very short, 37 percent short, 28 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus; while stock water supplies were 41 percent very short, 30 percent short, 29 percent adequate, and none surplus. As dry and unseasonably warm conditions persist, all of the State is in need of precipitation to help establish the newly planted wheat crop and replenish soil moisture supplies and livestock ponds.