Wheat producers in Kansas are worried about the potential for freeze damage after temperatures stayed below freezing for much of the weekend.
While its not unusual for Kansas to see spring freezes, the frigid temperatures and blowing wind over the weekend likely caused some damage to the states wheat crop.
I think this year were really putting the crop to the test, said Romulo Lollato, wheat specialist at Kansas State University.
Wheat fields in south-central and southeast Kansas are the most susceptible to freeze damage right now because of where theyre at in development. Lollato suggests producers in those regions evaluate their crops for damage before putting any more money into them.
But freeze damage isnt even the biggest problem wheat is facing.
I think the biggest concern as a state right now is definitely the drought, Lollato said.
Almost the entire state is experiencing drier than normal conditions, with most of southwest Kansas in extreme or exceptional drought.
Lollato said he has seen crops in some fields in southwest Kansas with roots that only go down one to two inches when they should be at least a foot deep at this point.
If May ends up being as hot and dry as expected, already stressed wheat crops may face even greater damage and, ultimately, lower yields.
