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Drought deepens across Central Plains, slashing winter wheat outlook

Intensifying drought conditions in parts of the Central Plains are a taking serious toll on this year’s winter wheat crop.

Southwest Kansas farmer Gary Millershaski says his area has only received a quarter-of-an-inch of precipitation since last fall. “For us to get a 30-bushel crop, you’ve really got to be optimistic and believe in prayer. That’s a fact.”

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor says 16 percent is in extreme or exceptional drought, an increase of one percent on the week. Sixty-nine percent is drought classification.

He tells Brownfield, “But, before you think, “oh man, you’re going to get a big crop”, that’s where we usually raise the 40-to-60-bushel wheat. I think we’re going to see 10 to 12 percent of abandonment.”

He says there is also some freeze damage and expects to start harvest in about a month, about three weeks ahead of schedule.

Agronomist Phil Swantek covers central and Western Nebraska with Hogemeyer Hybrids and says the situation is just as bad in his territory. “Our wheat crop is really, really dire. I think a lot of it will be torn out and planted to corn or milo or even fallowed.”  

The latest crop progress and condition report says conditions declined by 2 percent last week with 37 percent of the crop rated poor-to-very poor.