|
|
Corn harvest lagging behind averageKansas Temperatures were colder than normal during the week ending Oct. 11 with many areas only reaching the 70s for a high and dropping to lows at or below the freezing mark, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kansas Field Office, Oct. 13. Southeast Kansas received heavy precipitation with reports of 4 inches or more in 6 counties, including 5.39 inches in Cherokee County. Rain was otherwise light to moderate in the other areas across the state, limiting producers to an average 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture is rated as 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated as 4 percent very short, 11 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Activities for the week included cutting alfalfa, harvesting corn, sorghum, sunflowers, and soybeans, along with planting winter wheat. Soybean harvest advanced the most last week as farmers were able to get 19 percent of the state acreage harvested. Eighty-seven percent of the soybeans are dropping leaves, ahead of 86 percent last year but behind 91 percent for the 5-year average. Thirty-seven percent of the crop has been harvested, behind 2008 at 42 percent and the 5-year average of 44 percent. The condition of the soybean crop is rated as 2 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 30 percent excellent. Corn harvest is lagging the most being 27 points behind average. Ninety-five percent of the corn has reached maturity, ahead of 91 percent for 2008 but behind the 5-year average of 97 percent. Forty percent has been harvested, behind both last year at 43 percent and the 5-year average of 67 percent. Corn condition is rated as 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. Ninety-six percent of the sorghum crop is coloring, ahead of 94 percent last year but the same as the 5-year average. Fifty-seven percent has reached maturity, ahead of the previous year at 54 percent but behind the 5-year average of 69 percent. Farmer's have harvested eight percent of the sorghum crop, behind 2008 at 16 percent and 28 percent for the 5-year average. Sorghum condition is rated as 1 very poor, 5 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Fifty percent of the cotton has bolls opening, behind 74 percent for last year and 66 percent for the 5-year average. Cotton condition is rated as 5 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Eighty-nine percent of the sunflowers are in the ray flower dry stage, behind both the previous year and the 5-year average of 99 and 97 percent, respectively. Seventy-eight percent have bracts yellow, behind both 2008, at 90 percent, and the 5-year average of 89 percent. Forty-six percent of sunflowers are mature, behind 48 percent last year and 62 percent for the 5-year average. Eight percent has been harvested, behind last year at 9 percent and 20 percent for the 5-year average. Sunflower condition is rated as 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Seventy percent of the winter wheat has been planted, behind last year's 77 percent and the 5-year average of 74 percent. Thirty-eight percent has emerged, behind 48 percent for the previous year and 42 percent for the 5-year average. Seventy-eight percent of the fourth cutting of alfalfa has been completed, behind the previous year and the 5-year average at 83 and 88 percent, respectively. Range and pasture condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Feed grain supplies were rated as 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Hay and forage supplies were rated as 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were rated as 2 percent very short, 4 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
