The drought monitor report as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 is essentially unchanged again since last week for our area. The western third of the state continues to improve, especially near the Colorado border where a substantial chunk of the southwest corner is out of even abnormally dry conditions. The six to 10-day outlook (Aug. 8 to 12) indicates a 33 to 40% chance of leaning below normal for temperatures and a 40 to 50% chance of leaning to above normal precipitation. Good news. The eight to 14-day outlook (Aug. 10 to 16) indicates a continued to a 33 to 40% chance of leaning to below normal temperatures and continued 33 to 40% chance of leaning to above normal for precipitation. We can use the precipitation. Good news for soybeans and grain sorghum and as we head towards planting the 2024 wheat crop.
The area certainly has had an unusual summer. The weather has veered from dry to wet and cool to extreme heat. Much of the area has dealt with extreme storms with wind and hail. The last two weeks were overall excessively hot with wetter cooler conditions forecasted. As we head into August, let’s take a quick look at where area summer crops are.
• First, there are fields in our region that were decimated by the recent severe hail/wind storm and just gone. Then there are fields where there was damage but less severe. Yields are certainly hurt but the extent of the loss depends on the severity of leaf loss and growth stage of the crop, especially soybeans and grain sorghum. Some corn was in the dough stage and less yield loss should occur. One thing to remember is that these “wounds” combine with high humidity can lead to disease infection whether bacterial, viral, of fungal. We do have effective fungicides but a determination of yield potential is needed when considering treatment.
• Corn – While there was some late planted corn, most corn had pollinated and started developing seed prior to the heat wave. There will likely be yield loss, even under irrigation, but yields should be acceptable. Some late planted corn was flowering during the worst of the heat, especially nighttime temperatures, and may see significant yield reductions.
• Grain Sorghum – Milo handles drought fairly well compared to corn and soybeans. Some was starting to head during the worst of the head and may struggle a bit. Little was past pollination. Most is just now in the boot stage and in decent shape for successful pollination. The forecasted cooler, wetter conditions will help greatly and there is a decent chance for a good crop. And pollination is early enough that grain should mature before a chance of frost.
• Soybeans – the extreme heat came at the worst time for soybeans as right about now through mid-August is the critical water use phase. Some dryland fields were severely damaged the last two weeks. The upside is if the forecast is correct, with soybeans blooming for an extended period time, there is a good chance for acceptable yields where the plants weren’t severely heat damaged.
• Finally, feed crops overall are doing well and some fields are already being baled. For sudan grass and sorghum x sudan crosses, there is a decent chance for a second cutting with some rain.
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.
