The drought monitor report as of Jan. 23 shows marked improvement thanks to the weather of the last ten days. There is no exceptional drought and only 0.5% of the state is in extreme drought. Most of Southwest Kansas and part of Northwest Kansas is totally out of drought. Here in Barton County only a sliver of the southeast part of the county is even in moderate drought with the rest only abnormally dry. Compare that to a year ago when over 37% of the state was in exceptional drought. The six to ten-day outlook (Jan. 30 to Feb. 3) indicates an 80 to 90% chance of leaning to above normal temperatures and a 40 to 50% chance of leaning to above normal precipitation. The eight to 14-day outlook (Feb. 1 to 7) indicates a 60 to 70% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a 50 to 60% chance of leaning above normal precipitation. Definitely the precipitation forecast we want and for people and livestock producers very welcoming temperatures.
Today we are in a much different moisture situation than we were for the last several years. Let’s discuss what considerations that brings for producers to consider.
• Reevaluate yield goals. With much better soil moisture, along with overall better stands going into winter, it’s probably wise to reconsider fertility and pest control. It might even pay to conduct a profile nitrate test before topdressing nitrogen along with perhaps an upward adjusted yield goal. Not a rush, but with the moisture present and the forecasted warmer than normal temperatures, wheat may be greening up sooner rather than later.
• With the promise as of now for better stands and yields, weed pressure and herbicide selection may need reconsidered. This moisture helps the wheat but also weeds. Again, there is still time to evaluate. Also, here is scouting for insect pressure, cutworm for example. Although conditions may help wheat outgrow something light cutworm.
• If the moister conditions persist, it will be important to pay attention and scout for fungal diseases such as tan spot, Septoria leaf blotch, and rusts. For rusts, to pay special attention to what is happening south of us in Texas and Oklahoma.
• Cool season grass pastures should actually have enough moisture for normal spring growth. However, after the last several years, it’s important to give them a chance to recover from the last several years and from unavoidable overgrazing. And it might be a good idea for some broadleaf weed control.
• There is much more but let’s add one more item. This may a good year to spring plant dryland alfalfa. Also, if the long-term outlook is accurate, alfalfa will break dormancy earlier than normal for insect scouting and applying herbicides before breaking dormancy is a good idea.
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.
