August 9, 2006

 

Corn crops in US state Kansas affected by hot weather

 

 

Farmer Steve Baccus plans to cut most of his dryland corn for silage--trying to salvage what he can as triple-digit temperatures and drought decimate corn fields across the state.

 

Baccus, who also serves as Kansas Farm Bureau president, said his fields are among the last dryland fields in the county still standing. Most of his neighbours have already chopped theirs for silage.

 

His own no-till practices let his fields hang on to moisture a little longer than most-- until finally succumbing as well to the scorching temperatures.

 

On Monday, the Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service (KASS) reported that 32 percent of the state's corn was in poor to very poor condition. The remaining corn is not faring well, either.

 

About 34 percent was listed in fair condition. Only 29 percent was said to be in good condition, with 5 percent in excellent shape, KASS reported.

 

The agency listed silage cutting as a major farm activity across Kansas this past week.

 

At the Baccus farm, an insurance adjuster already has been out. He estimated the drought-stressed fields would yield between 17 and 34 bushels an acre--far short of the normal yields of 80 to 110 bushels an acre. Baccus plans to chop three of his five corn fields for silage.

 

He figured he will be lucky to get US$80 per acre for his silage corn. His crop would have otherwise brought as much as US$235 an acre had it made it to harvest.

 

It is far too late for rains to help the corn, but there is still hope for soybeans and sorghum if the state gets timely moisture, Baccus said. Farmers also need moisture to plant their winter wheat crop next month.

 

 

Soybean

 

KASS reported 17 percent of the state's soybean crop in poor to very poor condition, with 45 percent in fair condition. The remaining crop was listed as 34 percent good and 4 percent excellent.

 

It is not just crops that are shrivelling under the unrelenting heat.

 

Pastures are so dry in western Kansas that there often is no grass left for cattle to eat, forcing ranchers to move or liquidate their herds, Baccus said.

 

KASS said Monday that 53 percent of the state's ranches and pastures were in poor to very poor condition. Another 35 percent was reported as fair, while 12 percent remained in good condition.