Drought brings early corn harvest to Kansas
Any rainfall helps, but it may be too little, too late for several crops in Kansas.
"When you look at across the U.S., it's the most widespread drought we've had in several years, and from what I've heard, back to 1988 and even earlier in some areas," said Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service Acting Director Jason Lamprecht.
As of Sept. 23, soybean in the state is 67 percent poor to very poor, meaning there is extreme loss to crop yield potential, a complete failure of the crop or no feed for livestock available from it.
Similar scores are coming in for the corn crop.
"The corn crop we don't have a rating for because it's about three weeks ahead of harvest - a normal harvest. Farmers out there in Kansas have harvested 64 percent," Lamprecht said.
Lamprecht said at the same time last year, only 39 percent of the corn harvest was finished.
About 4.7 million acres of corn was planted in the state this year, with about 4.2 million to be harvested. About 3.6 million acres of soybeans were planted.
Lamprecht said east central Kansas was hit hard by the drought, as well as soybeans. He said the northeast parts of the state also are struggling.
Winter moisture will be "critical" for the next wheat crop, Lamprecht said.
Lamprecht discussed how the drought has affected the state on KFDI's At Issue program. To hear the entire interview, click here.
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