By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Some chances of rain have made the forecast for Barton County and Central Kansas in recent weeks but barely anything has reached the ground. The lack of precipitation is starting to take its toll on area wheat crops. Optimism was high after rainfall totals of 10 inches at Eagle Radio in Great Bend from mid-July through October. Stacy Campbell, crop production agent with K-State Research and Extension - Cottonwood District, said much has changed in recent months.
"Four weeks ago, or five or six, the wheat was still looking good overall for the most part," he said. "We just haven't had any measurable precipitation. There have been some scattered spots, at least in (Ellis County) that have gotten a little more rain than others, but the wheat has really declined in its yield potential."
Many variables beyond precipitation go into the success or failure of a wheat crop. Campbell said rain now could still benefit fields that have been double-cropped, or some fields that were planted behind failed crops last year are still looking okay. Some farmers are still having insurance adjusters come out and take a look.
"They hardly ever zero-out wheat unless it's just been hailed out," Campbell said. "They'll estimate what yield might be. It might only be six-tenths of a bushel or two bushels but it's hardly ever truly zeroed out."
Precipitation now may only be marginally beneficial to the current wheat crop, but farmers also have the future to worry about. The U.S. Drought Monitor has much of Central Kansas, including Barton County, classified as severe drought. The drought has been furthered by average temperatures 13 degrees above normal for this time of year.
"We're going to need it throughout the summer," Campbell said. "In a perfect scenario, if we could get a decent rain every week or two, that would be wonderful. We need quite a bit of rain. The pastures aren't looking good either. There's not much grass out there. It's slow in greening up. We need rain soon, and we need it to keep coming, ideally, through the summer."
Campbell said one farm near Galatia has not reported measurable precipitation since early February. The Cottonwood District also has test plots with several wheat varieties in Ellis and Barton Counties. Wednesday night, Campbell made the decision to cancel Field Days for those plots.
"Normally, I've been able to have a Field Day about every year even though there are some years it doesn't look real good," he said. "This year, it's so poor that we're not even going to have a Field Day."