KANSAS CITY, Missouri – As farmers throughout the U.S. Plains states wrapped up seeding of the new hard red winter wheat crop, worries mounted about a lack of moisture to boost plant development, wheat experts said Oct. 8.
“We’ve had pretty good moisture to get the wheat planted and the majority of it is going to come up. But we’re extremely short on subsoil moisture. That is going to be a major factor to get that crop going,” said Kansas wheat farmer Dean Stoskopf.
The concern was common not only throughout Kansas, the largest U.S. wheat-producing state, but also in the key growing states of Oklahoma and Texas. Southwestern Nebraska and eastern Colorado are also dry.
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Heavy rains in late August and early September recharged drought-stricken soils. Farmers were sowing fields at a faster-than-normal pace.
Wheat has been emerging well, but recent warm days and dry weather have sapped soil moisture levels. Farmers are worried that root establishment is weak and growth will be stunted without more timely rains.
Texas and Oklahoma are particularly dry and need rain to facilitate rapid growth of the new crop to meet cattle grazing needs this fall.
“We’re really needing some good rains,” said Texas A&M extension agronomist Brent Bean.
About 62 percent of the Kansas crop was seeded as of Oct. 5 and about 25 percent had emerged, according to weekly crop reports. Kansas subsoil moisture was rated 55 percent short to very short, and 45 percent adequate.
In Oklahoma, about 70 percent of the crop was planted as of Oct. 5 and 47 percent had emerged. Subsoil moisture was 50 percent short to very short and 49 percent adequate.
In Texas, soil moisture was lacking, according to the weekly state report. The wheat crop there was 68 percent planted and 25 percent emerged.
Rainfall was moving through the central parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas on Oct. 8 but was generally light, offering little relief except in some localized areas. There was little in the way of significant rainfall in the forecast, particularly in western regions, said Meteorlogix forecaster Mike Palmerino.
“We need another rain or two,” said L.G. Gilbert, manager of the Hydro Coop in Hydro, Oklahoma. “We’re dry.”
