Heat, drought take toll on Kansas farm crops

? The triple-digit temperatures and lack of rain in Kansas this past week came at a critical time in row crop development.

Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service on Monday reported declines in the condition of the state’s major spring-planted crops.

Among the hardest hit is the Kansas corn crop with 43 percent of it now rated in poor to very poor condition and just 18 percent in good and 1 percent in excellent condition.

Other crops also are struggling with 12 percent of the state considered to have adequate topsoil moisture.

About 33 percent of soybeans and 37 percent of sorghum crops were rated in poor to very poor condition.

Meanwhile, stock water supplies also are drying up with 51 percent reported short to very short.