Great Bend Tribune
Published August 3, 2024
The drought monitor report as of Tuesday, July 30 shows a great deal more deterioration. The percentage of the state totally out of dry conditions decreased from 11 to 42%. The amount of the state abnormally dry increased from 58 to 89%, moderate drought from 19 to 36%, and severe drought. Barton County and the area is unchanged. We are still predominantly in moderate drought with slivers of abnormally dry and severe drought. The six to ten-day outlook (August 6 to 10) indicates a 40 to 50% chance of leaning to above normal temperatures and leaning 33 to 50% leaning to above normal for precipitation. The eight to fourteen-day outlook (August 8 to 14) indicates a normal to leaning slightly below normal for temperatures and a 40 to 50% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation. The Wednesday night rains, while beneficial do little to alleviate our conditions and the outlook promises for drought conditions to likely increase. While the outlook is better, it’s likely too little and too late for many summer crops.
Today, let’s discuss how our summer crops are faring. What started out as a much more promising year than the last several, has taken a negative turn. While much of the state say marked improvement earlier this year with the western portion especially, our area never got out of drought and abnormally dry conditions. So, what are we looking at entering the home stretch for 2024?
- Things to keep in mind when determining potential crop yield include planting date, soil moisture at planting, residue cover, plant population, overall weed control, soil type, and so on.
- First, irrigated crops. Even with irrigation, corn and soybean crop yields suffer under extreme heat. For example, a corn crop can use up to 0.5” of soil water per day. Under extreme stress it’s almost impossible for an irrigator to supply enough water to eliminate water stress. The critical time for corn is from slightly before tasseling to several weeks after silking and pollination. For soybeans, it’s from approximately mid-bloom through pod set and fill. Early planted corn, dryland or irrigated, is in much better shape with a better chance of flowering and developing seed before the worst of the summer heat and drought. Now through August is when soybeans need moisture for pod fill.
- For dryland crops the yield and even plant loss in some cases is a function of planting date. Although it’s safe to say our dryland row crop yields have been significant hurt by the weather of the last several weeks in our area. Early planted corn is in much better than the later plantings. Soybean flowering is night length dependent, so less impacted by planting date and more by the maturity planted. Many fields in our area are experiencing plant death. Grain sorghum is more drought tolerant but the later plantings are in tough shape. Some of the early planted sorghum has set seed and looks decent but is still impacted.
- The upshot is some are baling beans for hay and chopping corn for silage. Adjusters are having a busy summer.