Rain gives Kansas farmers optimism, drought persists

RICE COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH) – The change in Kansas climate to kick off this week got here with a drop in temperatures and much-needed rain for Kansas farmers. Storm Staff 12 reported rain totals via Monday morning have been half of an inch to an inch for south central Kansas with “a number of fortunate communities into Cowley County getting an inch to one-and-a-half inches.

The query from Monday’s rain is how a lot of a distinction it might make for Kansas farmers.

“The rain that we’ve gotten the final day or so has actually put a extra optimistic view within the farmer’s eye,” mentioned Central Prairie Co-op Grain Advertising Advisor Owen Macfarlane. “As a result of we’ve gone with out moisture for thus terribly lengthy, everyone has been sort of down on themselves.”

Central Prairie Co-op Operations Supervisor Shane Eck mentioned the rain received’t assist fall crops as these crops have reached the mature stage. But it surely might provide a promising outlook for the following wheat crop. Wheat is beginning to sprout in fields close to Sterling. Monday’s rainfall and the prospect for extra could possibly be a strong enhance for a profitable crop.

“So far as the wheat goes, it’s undoubtedly going to assist. A whole lot of farmers have put their wheat in,” Eck mentioned. “They’d slightly little bit of moisture as you’ll be able to see behind me to get a few of it up. A few of them put their wheat in to dry floor, hoping to get rain to assist deliver it alongside, so this can undoubtedly present some good profit.”

Macfarlane echoed the optimism with farmers who have already got wheat within the floor.

“This moisture is admittedly going to assist have a constructive outlook in direction of summer season harvest and wheat manufacturing,” he mentioned.

Whereas Monday’s rain was a constructive signal, farmers say extra rain is required within the subsequent a number of weeks to get the wheat established earlier than chilly climate arrives.

“So far as rain that we want, we want about one to 2 inches to actually make an impression and make this wheat that’s being put within the floor and the wheat that has already been planted take off,” Macfarlane mentioned.

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