Wichita ? Kansas farmers will harvest a smaller crop of soybeans this fall than they did during last year’s drought-stricken harvest, the Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service said Thursday.

The agency also lowered production estimates for the state’s corn and milo harvests in the wake of a summer drought and a spell of triple-digit temperatures that hit just as plants were maturing.

“There is a lot of concern in the country, there is no doubt about it. … There is not a lot of optimism around — I’ll be very honest, myself included,” said Lyndon farmer Bill Wiley.

The new forecast lowered soybean production estimates by 23 percent from a month ago. The 52 million bushels now expected from Kansas farmers is 11 percent less than what the state harvested during last year’s drought.

Statewide, soybean yields were expected to average 20 bushels per acre, down three bushels from 2002, the statistics service said.

The latest forecasts for other Kansas crops also are dismal.

The forecast for milo was lowered 17 percent from last month, with the crop now projected at 137.6 million bushels. That is only 2 percent more than last year’s drought-stricken crop.

Kansas, the nation’s biggest milo producer, was averaging yields of 43 bushels per acre — down two bushels from a year ago.

Corn estimates also were adjusted downward. The new forecast calls for 318 million bushels, 5 percent less than was expected last month. That is still up 10 percent from last year.

Corn yields are expected to average 120 bushels per acre, only four bushels more than a year ago.