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Cooler than average temps slow crop progressKansas Kansas received scattered rain showers during the week ending Aug. 24 that varied widely across each county, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kansas Field Office, Aug. 25. Reporters also commented that the cooler than average temperatures have slowed crop progress, yet producers averaged 5.4 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture is rated at 4 percent very short, 21 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated at 7 percent very short, 21 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Primary farm activities involved cutting hay, irrigating and spraying herbicides on row crops, preparing for wheat planting, and harvesting high moisture corn and silage. Eighty-nine percent of the corn is in the dough stage, compared to 96 percent last year and 94 percent for the 5-year average. Fifty-three percent has dented, compared to 77 percent in 2007 and 70 percent for the 5-year average. Five percent of corn has matured, compared to 19 percent last year and 23 percent for the 5-year average. Corn condition is rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Eighty percent of sorghum is headed, compared to 91 percent for the previous year and 84 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty-four percent is coloring, compared to 36 percent last year and 33 percent for the 5-year average. Two percent is rated mature, compared to 1 percent in 2007 and 3 percent for the 5-year average. Sorghum condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Ninety-four percent of soybeans are blooming, compared to 97 percent for both 2007 and the 5-year average. Seventy-eight percent are setting pods, compared to 79 percent previous year and 84 percent for the 5-year average. Soybean condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. Ninety percent of the cotton crop is setting bolls, compared to 100 percent for the last year and 89 percent for the 5-year average. Cotton condition is rated 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Seventy-eight percent of the sunflowers are blooming, compared to 91 percent last year and 86 percent for the 5-year average. Seventeen percent is in the ray flower dry stage, compared to 28 percent in 2007 and 30 percent for the 5-year average. Four percent is in the bracts yellow stage, compared to 2 percent for the previous year and 7 percent for the 5-year average. Sunflower condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 66 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Ninety-one percent of the third cutting of alfalfa has been completed, compared to 97 percent for the previous year and 93 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty-four percent of the fourth cutting has been completed, compared to 32 percent last year and 28 percent for the 5-year average. Range and pasture conditions were rated at 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Feed grain supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 9 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Hay and forage supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were estimated at 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. 9/1/08 Date: 8/28/08
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