PAOLA — Crop experts say the Kansas winter wheat crop looks like it could be one of the worst in 20 years. However, one place where things are looking up for wheat is an area where it isn’t seen too often – East Central Kansas. More farmers in Miami and Franklin counties have been planting winter wheat. There have been few acres planted to wheat in recent years, said Mike Epler, Miami County Extension agricultural agent. However, Epler said it appears that there will be a lot of wheat acres harvested next year. Because of wheat’s absence, area farmers have some things to re-learn about planting and take care of wheat, he said. Normally, farmers in East Central Kansas prefer to focus on fall crops as soybeans, corn and milo and only use wheat as rotation crops rather than as a cash crop. And normally, the damper climate of eastern Kansas isn’t as conducive to winter wheat. However, a few years ago, area farmers were seeing bumper crops of wheat and some significant prices.
Thursday, Dec. 9, 7:30 a.m.
