Dry spring conditions could make the 2022 Sumner County wheat crop rather lackluster
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor released on May 17 shows Sumner County is still dry in the southern part. (Click to enlarge)
by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — The recent rain a couple of weeks ago may help, but it still may not be enough to salvage the wheat crop in Kansas this year, state agriculture officials say. The eastern part of the state is in decent shape, while the western part of the state is struggling. And Sumner County is right in the middle.
The lines of official drought meet in Sumner County, with the upper two-thirds of the county rated as normal. The southwestern part of the county is still considered a severe drought. While the upper two-thirds of the county may be in the normal range for weather, they are at the bottom edge of what is considered normal.
The entire county will likely see some negative effects caused by the weather on this year’s wheat crop.
The Kansas Wheat Association is projecting an average harvest of 39 bushels per acre across the state, well below last year’s statewide average of 53 bushels per acre. State officials are predicting 271,000,000 bushels of wheat will be harvested in Kansas this year, which is 100 million below last year’s level.
Last year was a very good year, however. Since 2005 there have been only three years that had 50 or more bushels per acre. The 10-year average is 43.7 bushels per acre.
The state wheat association’s annual tour has started, with people checking out crops all over the state. These tours have the same results: it looks like there could be good crops in the east and not good crops in the west. Again Sumner County is right in the middle.
Romulo Lollato, a K-State wheat specialist, said in the eastern part of the state some fields will yield 45-65 bushels per acre. In the far western part of the state, 10-15 bushels per acre is predicted. Some fields may be abandoned, and the crop not even harvested.
Last year’s conditions were ideal and there was one of the better overall crops in recent years. Dry conditions and heat have been hard on the wheat this year. That is slowing growth and development. As a result, the harvest may come later this year. Last year it started about May 17 and could be pushed ahead a couple of weeks due to the drought.
On the Wheat Quality Council’s 2022 Hard Winter Wheat tour that ended last weekend, average yields are expected at 39.7 bushels per acre, slightly higher than the USDA projection for the state. However, more than 80 tour participants predicted total production for Kansas – the nation’s top wheat-producing state – will be lower than the USDA forecast.
Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin said more wheat fields than normal could be abandoned and could be 10 to 11 percent.
Spotty and variable stands were themes during the tour, due to months of dry weather and recent extreme heat. Although some central and eastern Kansas fields recorded better-projected yields (some over 80 bushels per acre), the 2022 wheat crop is expected to fall short of last year’s 362 million bushel crop, which yielded 52 bpa.
Romulo Lollato, Kansas State University Extension wheat specialist, said the biggest surprise of the tour was the harsh growing conditions that southwest Kansas producers experienced this year extended eastward and to the south-central part of the state more than expected.
“Even though the drought wasn’t as severe to the east, soils are sandier that can’t hold as much water,” Lollato said. “A positive is less wheat streak mosaic was found.”
