Wheat Stress Builds in Kansas

By Scout Nelson

Kansas wheat fields that looked promising earlier in the season are now facing major drought pressure as the 2025-26 crop moves toward an early finish. After a strong start last fall, producers are now dealing with dry weather, changing temperatures, and adding crop stress across the state. 

The crop entered winter dormancy in good condition after a timely fall of moisture helped establish strong stands. At that time, 62% of the wheat crop was rated good to excellent. By mid-April, those ratings dropped sharply as spring rainfall stayed limited across many production areas.

Over the 90-day period ending April 15, much of western Kansas received less than one inch of precipitation, while some areas reported only one-quarter inch. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than half of Kansas was listed in moderate drought or worse, with large parts of western and central Kansas in severe drought. More drought updates are available here.

These important wheat regions hold most of the state’s production of acres. Conditions have also worsened across nearby states, including Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, and eastern Colorado. The spread of drought across the region has increased concern for grain production and crop quality.

March and April are key months for wheat development after dormancy. Without enough moisture, crop stress rises quickly. Dry weather is not only reducing yield potential but also speeding crop maturity. Under drought pressure, wheat can move into a “drought escape” response, trying to produce grain before soil moisture is fully depleted. This shortens grain fill time and may lead to smaller kernels, lighter test weights, and blank heads.

Some western counties have gone for long periods without measurable rainfall. Kansas Mesonet data shows Stanton County reached 102 days, Scott County 104 days, and Hamilton County 150 days without meaningful moisture.

“It’s unfortunate, because we had what we thought was a quite promising-looking crop,” Gilpin said. “From a maturity standpoint, this crop closely resembles the wheat crop of 2012. That crop was harvested early, beginning around the end of May.”

Fields in central and eastern Kansas that received scattered moisture are holding better, while western Kansas remains under stronger stress.

“Drought years like this reiterate the differences between continuous and fallow wheat. They are two different crops. The continuous wheat in the area is burning up, while the fallow has continued to hang on,” said Chris Tanner, President of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers.

With little relief in the forecast, many producers are now focused on saving what remains as the Kansas wheat crop moves quickly toward an early harvest.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-ygrek