Precipitation for the week ending March 22 was light and scattered throughout southern portions of Kansas, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kansas Field Office, March 23.
Producers averaged 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture is rated as 22 percent very short, 35 percent short, 41 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated as 9 percent very short, 28 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Primary farming activities included applying fertilizer, planting oats, and treating wheat for insects.
Five percent of the wheat has jointed, compared to 8 percent last year, and 11 percent for the 5-year average. The wheat condition is rated as 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Wind damage to wheat has been rated at 80 percent with no damage, 14 percent with light damage, 5 percent with moderate damage, and 1 percent with severe damage. Freeze damage has been rated at 91 percent with no damage, 8 percent with light damage, and 1 percent with moderate freeze damage. Overall winterkill to the 2009 wheat crop is rated at 84 percent with no winterkill, 12 percent with light winterkill, 3 percent with moderate winterkill, and 1 percent with severe winterkill. Insect infestation of the wheat crop is rated at 87 percent none, 11 percent light, and 2 percent moderate. Disease infestation is rated at 86 percent none, 13 percent light, and 1 percent moderate. Oats planting is 73 percent complete, compared to 58 percent in 2008, and 49 percent for the 5-year average.
Feed grain supplies were rated as 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 89 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Hay and forage supplies were rated as 11 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were estimated as 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Livestock activities include calving and lambing.
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