Cool, Wet Weather Slows Wheat Planting Progress

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MANHATTAN, Ks - Kansas farmers are having a difficult time finishing wheat planting this fall, with unusually cool, wet weather keeping them out of the fields.

Kansas Agriculture Statistics reports that 80% of the 2010 wheat crop has been seeded this fall, compared to an 89% average the last five years. Temperatures across Kansas have been several degrees below normal throughout October. This, coupled with above average precipitation, has prevented many farmers from finishing wheat planting. From Oct. 12 to Oct. 26, just 3.7 days have been suitable for fieldwork, KAS reports.

Justin Gilpin, chief executive officer of Kansas Wheat, says it appears wheat acres will be less than originally intended for the 2010 wheat crop due to abnormally wet planting conditions. Another round of wet weather is due to hit Kansas the evening of Oct. 29, causing even more angst for farmers waiting to get wheat planted and crops harvested.

"Many farmers are concerned they won't get their wheat crop planted due to the wet conditions much of Kansas has faced this fall," Gilpin says. "Not only are conventionally planted acres down a bit, but we know that many farmers planning on planting wheat into corn, sorghum or soybean stubble are having difficulty due to a late fall harvest."

According to KAS, corn harvest is delayed by more than 33% compared to the 5-year average, and just 14% of the sorghum harvest is complete, compared to the five-year-average of 46%. Forty-eight percent of the state's soybeans have been harvested, and the five-year pace is 68%.

Scott Van Allen, Kansas Wheat Commissioner from Conway Springs, says about half his crop has been seeded thus far, but frequent rain showers brought seeding progress to a standstill Oct. 7. He hasn't been in the field since. "I would be surprised if half the acres in Sumner County are planted," Van Allen says. "There are others in worse shape than shape me; some don't have any wheat planted at all."

Most years, Sumner County farmers plant more wheat than any other county in Kansas. That standing is in jeopardy, as time is running out to plant wheat this fall.

There are other areas of Kansas where producers are plagued with wet planting conditions. Kansas Wheat Commissioner Ron Suppes farms in Lane and Finney counties, where the wheat crop is about three-quarters planted. After six consecutive years of drought, however, too much precipitation is better than not enough.

"We'd like to get the wheat planted, but I'm also looking forward to having ample moisture," says Suppes, who adds he will increase the seeding rate and finish planting his wheat crop this fall. "We're still okay, calendar-wise, but it would be nice to finish planting."

Jim Shroyer, K-State Extension agronomist, says boosting seeding rates is important when planting this late in the season. Growers in central and eastern Kansas should plant 120 pounds of seed per acre; farmers in western Kansas should boost the seeding rate to about 100 pounds per acre. Applying phosphorous as starter fertilizer is recommended, to boost the plant's ability to tiller.

"If the wheat comes up before the end of the year, we're still looking at about 80% of normal yield, provided farmers boost seeding rates. If it can tiller a little bit this fall, that's all the better," Shroyer says. "However, if it doesn't come up until after the first of the year, most years we would expect a 40-60% yield loss."

For many farmers, the federal crop insurance deadline for wheat has passed, or will soon pass. The deadline is established by the USDA's Risk Management Agency. (Look for a map with coverage deadlines here. Note: 2009 deadlines are the same as 2008.) According to the Topeka Regional Office of RMA, wheat producers can still obtain crop insurance coverage, even if planting after the deadline. The level of coverage decreases by 1% each day for 15 days, but producers must still pay the full coverage premium.