Severe weather sets back Kansas wheat harvest

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Severe weather and humidity are holding back the wheat harvest in Kansas and adding to historically low yields.

Justin Gilpin, the chief executive officer of the Kansas Wheat Commission said Thursday that nearly 20% of the acres planted won’t be harvested this year because of poor crop conditions.

“It’s been a challenging year for Kansas wheat farmers from production because of weather,” Gilpin said. “And ironically, the dry weather’s what caused the low, low estimates and low yields, and now, we’re seeing some crop losses because of too much rain and high humidity.”

He said some recent crop losses are piling on top of what was going to be one of the lowest productions Kansas has seen since the 1960s.

But some farmers have had more luck than others, Gilpin said.

While some are collecting yields of 10 to 15 bushels per acre, others are getting 50 per acre, depending on when the rain hits and how the wheat varieties respond.

Gilpin said harvest has been slow because farmers have had to pause for the weather multiple times.

Despite a 40% decrease in production compared to last year, Kansas remains the largest wheat producer in the United States, which Gilpin said, is being watched by people across the globe.

“A lot of eyes, you know, around the United States but also around the world are always eager to see how the bushels are going to come in from our Kansas farms because of the impact that we have,” he said.