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Lack of moisture impacting fall crops in western Kansas

A western Kansas farmer says a lack of moisture is impacting the fall crops.

Clay Schemm tells Brownfield.

“We had right around, I think 1,000 acres of corn get adjusted to between 1.1 and 1.5 bushels to the acre,” he says.

According to USDA as of Sunday, 24% of the state’s expected corn crop is harvested, ahead of the five-year average of 17%. Ninety-four percent of the crop has dented and 72% of the crop has matured. Soybean conditions are rated 51% good to excellent.

Schemm says many in his area have been planting winter wheat.

“Some guys have finished if they went out early for some grazing, but pretty much guys are kind of kicking off kind and getting into it,” he says.

USDA says 9% of the winter wheat crop is planted in the state, slightly ahead of the five-year average of 7%.

The sorghum harvest is underway with 5% harvested, 35% of the crop matured and 80% coloring.

Photo credit: Whitney Larson