WASHINGTON — The nation’s winter wheat crop is in distress and is continuing to get worse. At least one-third of the Kansas wheat crop is rated at poor to extremely poor, said U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist Brad Rippey. There have been several factors that have conspired against wheat, including drought at key times, cold temperature and high winds, he said. Unless the wheat gets significant amounts of moisture soon, it will get worse, and unfortunately, it appears this weekend’s snow or rain will be mostly east of the major wheat-growing area, he said. Ironically, many farmers in east central Kansas planted more wheat last fall and their wheat crop is doing better than much of the state’s.
Thursday, Jan. 6, 2:30 p.m.
