Lower crops may be just the latest area impacted by the ongoing drought reported across the KVOE listening area.
According to Lyon County Extension Ag Agent Brian Rees, the county is far behind where it should be with yields of specific crops, namely corn and soybeans. Rees tells KVOE News conditions were simply “too hot and too dry” when crops began to fill, meaning the majority are likely to miss their yield expectancies by a sizeable margin.
Rees says there could be some crop yields could come in slightly higher than expected, however, he is confident none of those would be considered a “bumper gain” — a yield that significantly exceeds expectations.
Rees says crops are not the only area affected by the ongoing dry spell as he tells KVOE many pastures are beginning to see their ponds drying up which has a significant impact on livestock. If that weren’t troubling enough, Rees says the quality of the water is beginning to decrease right along with the quantity.
Rees says the month of September historically brings additional moisture to the area, however, given the inconsistency of rainfall over the past several months, he says any level of rainfall would come too late to have any significant impact on the state of local crops.
According to the US Drought Monitor’s weekly update Thursday, abnormally dry conditions are in place for the north half of Lyon and Chase counties, as well as all of Morris County, the south half of Osage County and most of Coffey County. Moderate drought remains along and south of the Interstate 35-US Highway 50 corridor from the Lyon-Coffey county line to the west across Lyon and Chase counties. Southwest Coffey County also has moderate drought. Severe drought still covers most of Greenwood County and far southeast Coffey County.
Dry conditions will persist for the listening area through the week with highs forecasted to be in the mid to low 90’s through the upcoming weekend.
