Kansas 2000 wheat crop was down 20% from 1999

Acres seeded in the fall of 1999 for harvest is 2000 totaled 9.8 million, down 200,000 acres from the previous year. The 2000 crop was harvested from 9.4 million acres, up from the 9.2 million acres harvested in 1999.

Yields averaged 37 bushels per acre, 10 bushels below last year's yield of 47 bushels per acre.

Seeding of the 2000 wheat crop started in early September. It progressed rather slowly, until scattered showers were received in late September and early October. By the end of October, 97% of the acreage was seeded, slightly ahead of the 92% seeded for the 1999 crop. Seeding was complete by the middle of November. The percentage of the crop emerged was ahead of last year until the week of Nov. 14, when, at 92% emerged, the crop fell behind the 94% emergence for last year. Very little precipitation fell during December and most of January leaving some areas without any measurable precipitation since September. Conditions declined as a result of the dry weather. The crop also lacked a snow cover until the end of January, when a winter storm blanketed the fields with two to four inches of snow.

The winter wheat crop broke dormancy in most areas by the end of February. The condition of the crop improved slightly from January. The crop suffered only light freeze and wind damage during the winter. Generally, insect and disease infestations were mostly light throughout the state during the spring. By April 2, 44% of the crop was jointed, ahead of the 30% jointed at the same time last year. Crop conditions continued to improve during March and April. By May 1, 14% of the wheat was headed, ahead of last year's average of 9%. The hot, dry weather, with temperatures reaching the 90s and 100 the last week of May, caused condition to start declining. The majority of the crop, 87%, was turning color by June 4, compared to 52% last year.

Harvest began in the south central part of the state the first week of June. Harvest progressed very rapidly and neared completion the first week of July, with 94% of the crop harvested, compared with 33% last year. The 2000 wheat harvest was complete by mid-July. The protein content averaged 11.9%; test weight, 59.9 pounds per bushel; and moisture, 11.8%.

Sumner County continued to be the leading wheat producing county in the state, with 13.8 million bushels. Reno County, with 10.4 million bushels, was the second leading producer, followed by McPherson, with 8.9 million bushels, Barton, with 8.7 million bushels, and Kingman, with 8.3 million bushels.

Jefferson County had the highest average yield, with 49 bushels per acre. Decatur and Stevens counties shared the highest average irrigated yield, at 53 bushels per acre. Lincoln and Rice counties shared the highest average summerfallow yield, with 47 bushels per acre. Jefferson had the highest average continuous cropped yield, at 49 bushels per acre.

Sumner County, with 381,200 total acres harvested, was the top county in the state. Reno County was second, with 264,200 total acres harvested. Harper County was third, with 231,800 acres, followed by Kingman County, at 228,200, and McPherson County, with 220,500 acres. Sumner County had the largest amount of continuous crop wheat harvested acres, at 350,900. Ness County ranked first in summerfallow acres harvested, with 145,800, while Haskell ranked first in irrigated harvested acres, with 56,300.