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Varied precipitation falls across stateKansas Precipitation varied widely across the state during the week ending March 23 with the Eastern areas receiving the heaviest amounts and the Southwest receiving only light amounts, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kansas Field Office, March 24. Producers averaged 3.5 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated at 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated at 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Primary farm activity involved fertilizing pastures, top dressing wheat, beginning weed control, and seeding oats. Wheat is estimated at 9 percent jointed, compared to 16 percent in 2007 and 13 percent for a five-year average. Wheat condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Wind damage to the wheat crop across the state was 90 percent no damage, 7 percent having light damage, 2 percent with moderate damage, and 1 percent with severe wind damage. Freeze damage to wheat has been rated at 88 percent with no damage, 10 percent with light damage, and 2 percent with moderate freeze damage. Overall winterkill to the 2008 wheat crop was rated at 85 percent with no winterkill, 12 percent with light winterkill, and 3 percent with moderate winterkill. Early reports place the amount of the wheat crop acreage that has been lost to winterkill at 4 percent of the total. Insect infestation of the wheat crop is rated at 92 percent none, and 8 percent light. Disease infestation is rated at 88 percent none, 11 percent light, and 1 percent moderate. Oats planted is 63 percent complete, compared to 47 percent in 2007 and 48 percent for the five-year average. Range and pasture conditions were rated at 7 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Feed grain supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Hay and forage supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 21 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were estimated at 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Livestock activities primarily involved calving and lambing around the state. 3/31/08 Date: 3/27/08
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