Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending April 22, 2012

Agricultural Summary: Temperatures continued to be mostly above normal across Kansas last week with only light precipitation. Thirty-four of the 53 stations received no precipitation while only two stations received more than half an inch. Columbus and Pittsburg in the Southeast District received 0.58 inches and 0.51 inches, respectively. High temperatures ranged from the mid 70’s to mid 80’s, and low temperatures ranged from the low 30’s to low 40’s. Eight stations reported low temperatures at or below freezing, and six stations reported average temperatures below normal. Last week, producers averaged 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork as all districts reported over 4.5 days suitable.

Because of limited rainfall last week, topsoil moisture conditions slightly declined to 4 percent very short, 13 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies also slightly declined to 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Producers continue to spray wheat for insects and disease, plant corn, and cut alfalfa, while a few producers have begun to plant soybeans, sorghum, and cotton.

Field Crop Report: The Kansas wheat crop continues to progress three weeks ahead of the average. Nearly all the crop has jointed, as the statewide average is 97 percent, ahead of 59 percent last year and the 5-year average of 62 percent. Forty-five percent of the wheat crop has already headed, well ahead of 5 percent last year and the 5-year average of 2 percent. The Northwest and West Central districts are below 10 percent headed while the South Central and Southeast districts are more than 80 percent headed. The condition of the wheat crop decreased slightly to 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Insect damage to the wheat continues to increase to 19 percent light, 5 percent moderate, and 1 percent severe, while disease damage also increased to 26 percent light, 11 percent moderate, and 2 percent severe.

Corn planting reached 32 percent complete, ahead of the previous year at 26 percent and a week ahead of the 5-year average of 19 percent. Eleven percent of the crop has already emerged, ahead of the previous year at 4 percent and the 5-year average of 2 percent. While the western districts are still below 10 percent planted, the Southeast district already has 54 percent of the crop emerged. Soybean growers have just started planting their crop, primarily in Eastern Kansas and are 2 percent complete. The first cutting of alfalfa was 14 percent complete last week, ahead of the previous year and 5-year average.

Feed Supplies Report: The condition of the Kansas range and pasture was rated at 11 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Feed grain supplies declined slightly to 6 percent very short, 16 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Hay and forage supplies slightly improved to 14 percent very short, 20 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Stock water supplies increased to 5 percent very short, 10 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Cattle continued to be turned out to spring pasture last week, while a few producers were still repairing farm structures due to damage from the previous week’s storms.

Tags: crop progress, crop weather and condition, USDA reports

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