May 28, 2004

 

 

US Kansas Wheat Producers Say Crop Has Declined; Dryness, Freeze

 

Field observations shared Thursday in a report by Kansas Association of Wheat Growers board members who met this week in Hays, Kan., indicated that the Kansas hard red winter wheat crop has declined in the last month due to freeze damage and drought.

 

In central Kansas, John Thaemert, who farms in the Sylvan Grove area, said in the report that his wheat looked healthy until the recent hot, dry spell.

 

Nearby producer and KAWG Vice-President Kendall from Little River said his wheat appears fine but not a good as last year. Kendall cited increased weed pressure and dry soil conditions and expects harvest to be at least a week ahead of normal.

 

Also in the central section of the state, Paul Penner, who farms near Hillsboro, said his fields received only scattered showers after a good rain in February. He reported high disease pressure, primarily from wheat streak mosaic.

 

In the north-central region, Steve Doane and Larry Yost, both of whom farm in the Downs area, said the wheat looked good early in the season but that then hot, dry weather caused stands to go downhill quickly.

 

Also in the north-central area, KAWG President Jerry McReynolds, who farms in Rooks County, reported that his wheat looks good from the road but that a recent closer examination revealed substantial freeze damage.

 

In the western tier, Roger Beesley, a wheat producer in the Gove area, said that hot, dry winds, then a freeze, followed by a hail storm, wiped out an estimated half or so of his 2004 wheat crop.

 

In the northwest corner of Kansas, the hardest-hit area in terms of dryness this year, Anne Marie Worley from Atwood said she has no wheat to harvest. After some early season struggles, the late freeze problems wiped it out, she reported.

 

In southwestern Kansas, Jay Cook from in the Garden City area also reported some freeze damage. However, he reported that he is still expecting close to an average crop.

 

Wheat sources outside of the meeting contend that the Kansas wheat crop has been ripening fast and that some areas near the Oklahoma border will be ready to cut by next week.

 

As of May 23, the Kansas state crop update said 23% of the state's wheat crop is turning, compared to 9% for both last year and the five-year average. The report also cited increased evidence of freeze damage.

 

As of May 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast the 2004 Kansas wheat crop at 369 million bushels, with an average yield of 41 bushels per acre. This is down from last year's crop of 480 million and average yield of 48 bushels.