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Wide temperature swings seen across stateKansas Temperatures dropped below the freezing mark during the week ending Oct. 4 for the first time this fall, mostly in the western districts, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kansas Field Office, Oct. 5. Wide temperature swings were also common in the west with highs in the 90s on Oct. 1, dropping to freezing lows on Oct. 3. It was a dry week throughout the state, with only light precipitation reported in the eastern portions of Kansas, and no reports more than a half inch. Producers averaged 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture is rated as 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated as 4 percent very short, 13 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Fieldwork activities for the week included cutting alfalfa, harvesting corn, sorghum, sunflowers, and soybeans, along with planting winter wheat. Wheat seeding advanced quickly this week with the dry weather, but farmers are still 4 points behind the average. Fifty-three percent of the winter wheat has been planted, behind last year's 60 percent and the 5-year average of 57 percent. Twenty-two percent has emerged, behind 28 percent for the previous year and 26 percent for the 5-year average. Eighty-nine percent of the corn has reached maturity, ahead of 83 percent for 2008 but behind the 5-year average of 94 percent. Thirty-one percent has been harvested, behind both last year at 32 percent and the 5-year average of 54 percent. Corn condition is rated as 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Ninety-three percent of the sorghum crop is coloring, ahead of 89 percent last year but behind the 5-year average of 94 percent. Thirty-nine percent has reached maturity, the same as the previous year but behind the 5-year average of 57 percent. Farmers have harvested 4 percent of the sorghum crop, behind 2008 at 9 percent and 19 percent for the 5-year average. Sorghum condition is rated as 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Seventy-five percent of the soybeans are dropping leaves, ahead of 73 percent last year but behind 82 percent for the 5-year average. Eighteen percent of the crop has been harvested, the same as 2008 but behind the 5-year average of 25 percent. The condition of the soybean crop is rated as 2 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 29 percent excellent. Forty-one percent of the cotton has bolls opening, behind 63 percent for last year and 52 percent for the 5-year average. Cotton condition is rated as 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Eighty-five percent of the sunflowers are in the ray flower dry stage, behind both the previous year and the 5-year average of 92 and 93 percent, respectively. Seventy-two percent have bracts yellow, behind both 2008, at 80 percent, and the 5-year average of 81 percent. Twenty-eight percent of sunflowers are mature, ahead of 26 percent last year but behind 44 percent for the 5-year average. Four percent has been harvested, ahead of last year at 3 percent, but behind 12 percent for the 5-year average. Sunflower condition is rated as 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Seventy-three percent of the fourth cutting of alfalfa has been completed, behind the previous year and the 5-year average at 79 and 84 percent, respectively. Range and pasture condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Feed grain supplies were rated as 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Hay and forage supplies were rated as 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were rated as 2 percent very short, 4 percent short, 89 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus.
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