Today is July 17th so we are officially halfway through summer. Let’s spend a minute and take stock of where area producers stand. It appears, based on forecasts, the area will experience above normal temperatures over the next month and equal chances of above or below normal precipitation.
• Moisture – Except for a few patches of abnormally dry conditions, the entire state is in good shape regarding soil moisture. This area has benefitted from fairly regular and in some cases excessive rains. While temperatures have been hot, the higher humidities have helped plants cope. We haven’t experienced an extended heat wave yet.
• Soil moisture – While people may be tired of rain, especially the severe weather and flooding, this is what we needed to recharge the soil moisture profile and depending on the area, improve groundwater levels. The precipitation also allowed many irrigators to minimize groundwater withdrawals.
• Wheat – Even with weather difficulties, Kansas is projected to harvest 454 million bushels. We went from concern to a bumper crop for two major reasons. First, the area had timely and adequate precipitation and temperatures allowed the wheat to mature instead of dying off early. Second, in spite of low prices and crop uncertainty, in most cases, producers applied adequate fertilizer, herbicides, and spent the money on fungicides. For perspective, 454 million bushels equals 27.24 billion pounds, 13.6 million tons, almost 90 pounds give or take for every person living in the United States or over 9,000 pounds for every person in Kansas. Volume wise a bushel is equal to approximately 9 U.S. gallons so that is 4.086 billion gallons of wheat. Now the issue is how to move the crop and make room for the fall harvest.
• Feed crops/hay – The rains have made harvesting forages challenging, however, rains have also resulted in excellent growth for everything from alfalfa and prairie hay to sorghum x Sudan hybrids and Sudan grass. Summer pastures are good.
• Summer row crops – Irrigated crops appear excellent overall and rains have allowed most producers to minimize the use of their pivots. Dryland corn looks excellent overall, remember height doesn’t determine grain yields. Grain sorghum also appears to be in great shape in spite of delayed planting in areas with weather challenges. Soybeans are a bit behind with conditions but dryland soybeans also look great. There is soil moisture to help corn, most of which has appeared to pollinate well overall, to develop grain. Grain sorghum is a little iffier but should be okay with fairly normal conditions. Soybeans, however, haven’t reached their critical soil moisture usage stage yet. That will be in about three to four weeks on. Overall, the outlook is good if nature cooperates.
• Double-cropping – Double-cropped milo and soybeans are a bit behind with planting delays but warm weather and adequate moisture should help and it’s still only mid-July.
• Winter wheat 2017 – With good management, soil moisture should be there.
• Weeds – Perhaps the one real negative is the proliferation of weeds in crop and fallow fields, especially weeds resistant to glyphosate (Roundup®). These require immediate attention.