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Kansas farmer says winter wheat conditions declining rapidly

A central Kansas farmer says on-going drought is taking its toll on his crops.  

Rick Schlender tells Brownfield his winter wheat crop is in rough shape. “Things look tough on the dryland. You can see a rabbit run in front of you 50 yards. We’re not in good condition at this stage. Wheat is headed and 18-20 inches tall. It’s not looking good at all.”

The USDA says 22 percent of the crop is rated good-to-excellent and 14 percent of the crop has headed.

He says corn planting and irrigated soybean planting has wrapped up. “Dryland, not a lot. Especially those fields that had cover crops on them. We don’t have moisture there to do anything.”

Forty-two percent of corn has been planted with 20 percent emerged. Twenty-five percent of soybeans are in and 3 percent has emerged.