Wichita — Despite the April freeze, more than one-third of the state's wheat crop appears to be in good to excellent condition, the Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday.
In its weekly update, the agency also said the crop is progressing near the normal pace, with 88 percent of the wheat headed compared with 94 percent last year and 89 percent for the five-year average.
Reports from across the state put the wheat crop's condition at 10 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 29 percent good and 12 percent excellent. Slightly less than 40 percent of the crop shows no damage from freeze, and 82 percent has no damage from wind.
The weather gave farmers statewide an average 4.8 days suitable for field work last week, allowing progress in planting corn. Ninety-two percent of the planned crop is now in the ground, compared with a five-year average of 95 percent.
Corn condition was rated 3 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 63 percent good and 10 percent excellent.
Planting of other crops remains behind the normal pace. Twenty-five percent of soybeans have been planted, compared with an average rate of 36 percent, while sorghum planting is just 10 percent complete, less than half the normal pace.
The wet spring is evident in soil moisture levels.
Topsoil moisture was rated 14 percent very short to short, 76 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.
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