This season’s brutal cold brought concerns of winter wheat kill in the fragile crop.
One Kansas State University Extension Specialist says that air temperatures dropped to extreme lows, but soil temperatures did not.
Romulo Lollato said that snow in North Kansas went a long way, protecting emerging wheat from that winter cold. However, other parts of the state were not as lucky.
Combined with this year’s late emergence, nearly 25% of the crop is a cause for concern. While 25% of Kansas wheat crop is considered vulnerable to winter kill, it is not widespread.
Lollato says that he is confident the other 75% will make it.
Related Stories
Argentina hopes to boost demand, but critics see the move as a blow to American farmers.
U.S. produce growers face a structural disadvantage—cheaper imports driving down prices while rising labor costs squeeze margins. Without new policies or technology, profitability remains uncertain.
China is making strategic moves by purchasing more soybeans from Argentina and may soon follow the EU and reopen its market to Brazilian chicken exports.
Farmers should watch for soybean export rebounds with harvest, while corn and wheat shipments remain strong and sorghum demand struggles.
Rollins says the new trade relationship with Taiwan, which is committed to buying a significant amount of U.S. soy, could not come at a better time for farmers facing financial strain.