Agricultural News
Kansas Crop Dry in Some Areas- as is the Norhtwest and Norhcentral Oklahoma Wheat Crop
Thu, 06 May 2010 5:50:14 CDT
Dry topsoil surprised scouts on a western leg of the hard red winter wheat tour. A crop scout on his ninth tour said the subsoil moisture profile looks pretty good, but he thought topsoil moisture would be more plentiful.
"But it appears with warmer temperatures, wind blowing and crop growing that topsoil moisture got used up pretty quick," said Justin Gilpin, CEO of the Kansas Wheat Commission. "While the crop looks pretty good now and subsoil moisture is good, it needs a shot of rain in the near future."
Scouts reported conditions that were drier than expected on most legs of the tour. On the second day of the tour, which covered the western and southern portions of the state, scouts averaged 39.9 bushels per acre, almost dead even with last year's 39.8 bushel per acre average.
Meanwhile in Oklahoma, northern areas of the panhandle showed signs of stress Wednesday, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission Mike Schulte said. Alfalfa, Beaver, Harper and Woods counties received little rain after planting and the wheat stands are thin and blue.
He said some estimates may be too optimistic. "Not to say things look bad, but estimates may be high," he said. "If it rains this week, it'd be a great thing." He said the crops in northern counties desperately need rain in the next week and could still turn out well if they get it. Other parts of the state had adequate moisture throughout planting and look good, which could balance out.
Mike Schulte continues to travel on the 2010 Wheat Crop Tour- and he files an audio report from Wichita after day two. Quality is pretty rough- but Mike has some good information and you can hear it by clicking on the Listen Bar below.
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