Recent rains continue to repair the state’s dry cropland

Kansas farm ground soaked up a lot of rain over the last week, which is reflected in the most recent report on the state’s crops.

Statewide the topsoil averaged just 3 percent very short, 12 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture update. Subsoil moisture statewide was rated 11 percent very short, 25 percent short, 59 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.

Even in the still-parched southwest corner of the state, the soil is beginning to recover somewhat. The 42 percent of the subsoil there is rated as having adequate moisture and 2 percent surplus.

In south central Kansas, topsoil is 2 percent very short, 7 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 31 percent surplus. Subsoil was 2 percent very short, 25 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

While the rain will help wheat that made it to this point, it came too late for many fields hurt by a dry winter and early spring. The condition of the winter wheat crop is rated 10 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 27 percent good and 2 percent excellent.

This story was originally published May 19, 2015 at 8:53 AM with the headline "Recent rains continue to repair the state’s dry cropland."