Weather Mixed in Winter Wheat Country

A USDA report says December 2023 weather was a mixed bag for winter wheat producers. Timely precipitation in major wheat-growing states like Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arkansas boosted the crop. In Kansas, the top-producing state, about 43 percent of the hard-red crop was in good or excellent condition in December. Thirty-six percent was in fair condition, with the rest poor to very poor. An average of 2.7 inches of rain fell in Oklahoma last month, with more than three inches in west central counties. While no condition report was available, 22 percent of the state was suffering from drought, down from 47 percent three months earlier and 90 percent a year ago. In Colorado, 61 percent of the winter wheat crop was in good or excellent condition, up from 50 percent last year. In Arkansas, where soft-red winter wheat is grown, topsoil moisture was 69 percent surplus and 26 percent was adequate.