Kansas Climate: What is the latest drought status for Kansas?
The combination of warm, dry conditions resulted in expansion of the moderate to severe drought. Currently, less than half of the state is drought free. Considering this is typically a dry time of the year, even above-normal precipitation will not improve the most severe areas very quickly. Read more from our Climate Team, Mary Knapp and Chip Redmond.
Update on drought conditions in Kansas - February 28, 2020
Heavy rain this past week improved the drought status in central and west central Kansas. What is the outlook for the first week of March? Read more from our team in the Weather Data Library, Mary Knapp and Chip Redmond.
Drought stress taking its toll on Kansas wheat production in 2020
Wheat fields in various parts of Kansas are showing varying degrees of drought stress depending on the location. Read more about this emerging situation in this article from Romulo Lollato, K-State Wheat Specialist.
Dry conditions in early May leads to expansion of drought in Kansas
A dry start to May has led to an expansion of drought and abnormally dry conditions in portions of Kansas. Read more from our Kansas Climate Team in this article from Extension Agronomy.
Kansas weather: Early June heat, drought...repeat?
The first week of June has been unusually warm all across Kansas. But, how unusual is it and where does June 2020 rank in the record books? How long will it last? Read more about this hot start to June in this article.
Western Kansas remains very dry with significant impacts on agriculture
Extreme drought can be found in southwest Kansas with significant impacts on agriculture. Learn more about the Drought Monitor and find out what to expect over the rest of June in terms of rainfall and heat. (Cracked soil photo credit: Josh Coltrain)
Update on drought conditions in Kansas - June 23, 2020
While portions of Kansas did get significant rainfall in the last week, other areas remain dry with expansion of drought status in many locations. Read more about the drought status for Kansas and what to expect for moisture and temperatures as we head into July.
Heat wave for the weekend: Update on high temperatures and heat stress
The Climate Prediction Center and the National Weather Service have issued heat outlooks for the weekend and continuing through the end of July. Even western portions of Kansas can expect elevated dew points and increased low temperatures.
Update on drought conditions in Kansas - November 13, 2020
While certain areas of Kansas received some precipitation in the last week, much of the state remains quite dry. Did the rainfall result in a change in drought status for those areas? What is expected for the next week in Kansas? Read more in this article from the Kansas Climate team.
Update on drought conditions in Kansas - December 4, 2020
Heavy precipitation in some areas of Kansas resulted in some improvement in the drought status. Other areas that missed the rain declined or stayed the same. What is the outlook for the next 2 weeks in KS? Learn more in this article.
Expectations for a late-emerged winter wheat crop
Many wheat fields around Kansas emerged later than desired due to extremely dry soil conditions in the fall. What are the expectations for late-emerged wheat and what factors contribute to the expected yield potential for those fields?
Update on drought conditions in Kansas - June 28, 2022
This article summarizes the weather in Kansas during the week of June 22 to June 28. Isolated, heavy rains in some areas led to improvement in drought status, while the western regions remain dry. The northeast portion of KS could see moderate rainfall through the weekend. What will July bring for Kansas?
Drought and heat stress in Kansas corn fields
Since the end of June, rainfall has been sporadic and uneven across Kansas. In central and western Kansas, several corn fields under dryland conditions have been suffering a combination of drought and heat stress. Common symptoms of drought/heat stress in corn are discussed in this article.
Dryland corn considerations for 2022
Dryland corn in many parts of western KS is struggling. Elevated levels of nitrates are a common concern with drought-stressed plants. This article discusses the best options for these corn fields. Failed dryland corn may fill a gap for livestock producers with limited forage options. Testing prior to feeding will be particularly important.
Considerations when planting wheat into dry soil
Soils in portions of western and central Kansas have become steadily drier through the late summer and early fall. Topsoil conditions are now very dry in many areas of Kansas. Wheat producers have limited options for planting: "dust in" the wheat, plant deeper, or wait for rain. Read more about these options in this article.
Check herbicide labels before using soybeans for livestock feed
Drought conditions throughout Kansas are forcing farmers to consider harvesting soybeans for forage instead of grain. Many factors should be considered when making this decision. Herbicide applications made during the growing season are one thing to consider. Many herbicide labels restrict the use of soybeans as a forage.
Drought progression in Kansas during the 2022 growing season
Drought conditions across Kansas have steadily worsened since the start of this growing season. Parts of Kansas that were drought-free in April are now classified in the most extreme drought classification. How did we get there? This article looks at the progression of drought across Kansas this growing season.
Value of forage insurance during drought
Over two-thirds of all Kansas counties are experience extreme or exceptional drought. Cattle producers can take several actions to mitigate the impact of drought, including purchasing forage insurance, or Pasture, Rainfall, Forage (PRF) insurance. In this article, we discuss what the PRF is and report PRF payouts to-date by drought status for all 105 Kansas counties.
Considerations when buying hay for winter feeding
Hay is the most important fiber source for cattle during the winter in Kansas. When looking to buy hay to feed this winter, there are several factors to consider so that you get the best product for the price.
Update on soil conditions and growing degree days this spring
The first half of April means that planters in some areas of Kansas have started rolling out. This article looks at soil temperatures, soil moisture, and growing degree day accumulation for the year. The upcoming forecast for Kansas is also presented.
Drought soil moisture spring planting soil temperature growing degree days
Rainfall in southwest Kansas this growing season ranks in the top five since 1895
The meteorological start of the 2023 growing season was on April 1. The average precipitation across southwest Kansas for this 4-month period is 16.29 inches which ranks as the 5th wettest April-July on record in that division, dating back to the start of official climate records in 1895.
Considerations when planting wheat into dry soil
Several areas across Kansas are still experiencing drought conditions. Topsoil conditions are very dry in many areas of Kansas. For wheat yet to be planted in these areas, producers are left with a few options. This article discusses the different strategies for planting wheat when the soil is lacking adequate moisture.
Kansas weekly drought update and climate report: Dec. 27, 2023 - Jan. 2, 2024
This article summarizes the weather conditions across Kansas for the week of December 27, 2023 through January 2, 2024. Also included in this report is an update on the drought status across Kansas and the short-range weather forecast for the next 8 to 14 days.
Kansas Weekly Drought Update and Climate Report - Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 2024
This past week, much above-normal temperatures were again the rule across all of Kansas. A multi-day weather event brought generous amounts of rain to the state during the period. There were improvements in the drought status for some areas. Learn more about the weather across Kansas during the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
Possible causes for white heads in wheat
White heads have been appearing in many wheat fields around Kansas. Sometimes, they are just single tillers scattered throughout part or all of a field, and sometimes, they occur in small-to-large patches. There are many causes of white heads. Here are some of the most common causes and their diagnoses.
Kansas drought update and climate report: July 17-23, 2024
This article recaps the weather across Kansas during the week of July 17-23. After several days of above-normal temperatures, cooler temperatures began on July 17. It also updates the drought monitor and looks ahead at the weather forecast for the coming weeks.
Summary of Kansas growing season weather in 2024
Now that July has ended, where does Kansas stand with respect to normal temperatures and precipitation for the 2024 growing season? In this report, we examine some summary statistics. The latest Drought Monitor revealed that only 11% of Kansas is considered drought-free, a dramatic change from three weeks ago.
Alfalfa management options for short or drought-stressed stands
This article discusses management options for short or drought-stressed alfalfa stands. Always use caution when harvesting alfalfa in the fall, especially if the plant is drought-stressed. Cutting the crop without leaving 6-8 weeks of re-growth before the first freeze can damage the stand and reduce persistence for subsequent years.
Considerations when planting wheat into dry soil
Despite some recent rainfall events, the most recent Drought Monitor shows 96% of Kansas still experiencing abnormally dry or worse conditions. Producers are left with a few options for wheat yet to be planted in these areas. This article discusses the considerations when planting wheat into dry soil.
Be mindful of fire safety during harvest season
As fall harvest continues across Kansas, many areas are challenged by abnormally dry to severe drought conditions and elevated fire risk. With above-average temperatures and limited to no precipitation expected in the short term, conditions are perfect for equipment fires and quick-moving field fires. Be aware and prepared!
Management adjustments when sowing wheat late
Some producers may have delayed wheat planting for different reasons, including harvesting a summer crop or having dry soils. Although good yields are still possible when planted outside the optimal window, late-planted wheat is often subjected to colder fall temperatures. Some adjustments can be made to compensate for late planting.
Kansas Drought Update and Climate Report for the week ending Nov. 5, 2024
In this week's Drought Update and Climate Report, heavy widespread rain this past week led to a large area of 1-category improvement across eastern Kansas. Statewide average precipitation for the last seven days was an impressive 2.4 inches! Read more about last week's weather and what's coming in this article.
Kansas Drought Update and Climate Report for Nov. 13-19, 2024
For the week of Nov. 13-19, the entire state of Kansas experienced above-normal temperatures and rainfall. Portions of 29 counties were upgraded by one category in the latest Drought Monitor, resulting in all remaining areas of D2 Severe Drought being removed.