The recent Winter Wheat Tour conducted by the Wheat Quality Council in Kansas revealed ongoing challenges for the state's wheat crop. Reports from Day 1 indicated the damaging effects of drought, freeze events, and reduced wheat heads, setting a somber tone for the harvest season.
Romulo Lollato, the Extension wheat specialist at Kansas State University, noted that these conditions were not surprising given the prolonged drought that has afflicted Kansas for the past three years. The tour involved 28 cars covering designated routes from Manhattan to Colby, making 318 stops along the way. The average potential yield recorded on Day 1 was 29.8 bushels per acre.
The effect of drought on wheat production was further highlighted by a comparison to earlier years. The average anticipated production for 2022 was 39.5 bushels per acre, compared to 59.2 bushels for 2021. The U.S. Drought Monitor Map was superimposed onto the tour itineraries, and it clearly showed a relationship between the locations with lower wheat quality and the severity of the drought conditions from east to west.
Looking ahead to Day 2 of the tour, Jeanne Falk-Jones, a K-State agronomist based at the Northwest Research Extension Center in Colby, highlighted the challenges observed in the western counties of the state. Variable stands, delayed wheat emergence, and instances of winterkill and winter injury were among the issues anticipated during the tour.
Tillage passes were also performed in some fields to prevent soil erosion caused by high winds experienced during the dry winter. While the dry conditions may have a silver lining in terms of reduced rust, disease, and pest pressure, the thinner stands of wheat could lead to weed growth following any rainfall, potentially slowing down the harvest process.
The Winter Wheat Tour serves as a crucial assessment of the state's wheat crop, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Kansas farmers as they navigate the persistent challenges posed by adverse weather conditions.
Photo Credit: Wheat Quality Council
Categories: Kansas, Crops, Wheat, Weather