The drought monitor report as of Tuesday, Sept. 10 shows a very slight deterioration in drought conditions for the state. The rainfall received last week wasn’t enough to chance our moderate drought conditions. The six to ten-day outlook (Sept. 10 to 14) indicates a 50 to 70% chance of likely above normal temperatures and a 50 to 60% chance of likely below normal precipitation. The eight to 14-day outlook (Sept. 12 to 18) indicates a 60 to 70% chance of above normal temperatures and a 40 to 50% chance of leaning below normal for precipitation.
Driving around the area, you will notice producers out preparing to plant the 2025 wheat crop. If you go south of Great Bend and into the county and township roads, you see rye has been planted and emerged in preparation for grazing cattle this fall and winter. Some is already three to four inches tall. Rye producer took advantage of the rains we had several weeks ago. It was simply too early for wheat. And the outlook is for dry conditions, at least in the short term. This is a pattern going back decades that seems little changed.
Why bring this up? The reality is farming changes dramatically. Take wheat as an example. Go back several decades and wheat acreage was much, much higher than today. Come harvest time, many elevators were open almost around the clock and often seven days a week. No more unless there are unusual circumstances. Perhaps the biggest change from decades ago is the almost total elimination of the moldboard plow and burning wheat stubble for weed and pest control. This was made possible by effective pesticides, tillage and planting equipment, crop breeders, and the need to save the soil and soil water. We quit aggressive tillage and for most leaving the soil totally bare as it increased soil erosion and soil water loss.
Today, as we complete year four of the current drought, with little evidence it’s disappearing anytime soon, the time is here for producers to consider further changes in cultural practices. First, double cropping wheat after corn, soybeans, milo, or feed crops will become even riskier, especially for milo as it uses water later in the season. Some years, it may work. Producers may also be forced to pay less attention to what used to be called the fly-free date for planting, and more attention to when they have adequate moisture conditions for wheat establishment. Finally, it’s becoming more apparent these last few years that we simply must cut back more on tillage, especially more aggressive tillage. We must find ways to optimize surface residue cover to keep the soil cooler and save as much water as we can. This may mean increase chemical costs. It may mean cover crops. The reality is we must adapt to what appears to be more than a blip on the climate radar.
Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207, or martinv@bartonccc.edu.
