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Soil cracks highlight worsening drought in some Kansas fields

North-central Kansas farmer Brett Grauerholz says ongoing drought is stressing his corn and soybean crops.  

“Luckily with some irrigation in the area, we’ve been able to keep it going and keep reproductive stages going since we’re starting to hit that in the soybeans are in that in the corn.”

He says it’s been nearly a month since he’s received precipitation, and the conditions speak for themselves. “In the tighter soils and the sandier soils, the corn is starting to lose the bottom half of the plant, it’s starting to turn brown.”

Grauerholz tells Brownfield he’s finding large cracks in the soil. “You can find them pretty consistent from anywhere from three-quarters of an inch to an inch wide and then there are certain spots of the field with wider cracks up to two inches wide. How deep those go? I haven’t had the guts to drop a pair of pliers or a screw driver down there yet.”

He says he’s optimistic that a forecast for rain would materialize and be beneficial before next week’s heat wave.