Farmers’ Harvesting Plans Thwarted by Disastrous Weather

Crop yields are expected to be down for some Kansas farmers as ‍persistent drought ​conditions persist across ‍the state and ⁤precipitation remains below average. ​#drought https://t.co/gF8HpypPOd

—‌ Successful ‌Farming⁢ (@SuccessfulFarm) July⁣ 18, 2023

While ⁣rain ‌has finally arrived⁢ in the Midwest, it⁤ has ​brought its ⁢own set of challenges. The‌ downpours have ‍slowed down the work‌ of harvesters who are‍ already ‌facing tight⁢ deadlines. The​ disrupted‌ timing of crop maturation has further complicated the crisis.

According to a report‍ in The⁢ Wall Street Journal, the harvest of ⁤winter wheat ‍in Kansas is significantly behind schedule. Normally, ⁣90 percent of ‍the crop⁣ would ⁢have been harvested by July 10, but this ​year, only 60 percent has been harvested. Harvesters who ⁢usually⁤ move ⁤from field to‌ field have ‍been forced⁣ to leave Kansas and ‍head to other states like Colorado or South ​Dakota.

“They ‍have‌ begun⁤ harvest‍ in ⁢central‍ South Dakota already,”⁣ shared ⁤harvester Brian Jones. “That’s a major‌ issue as​ there is⁢ no way to ‍get ‌to our ⁣Nebraska⁣ stop in⁣ between.”

This year⁣ has become​ “a year to remember for all the ‍wrong⁣ reasons,” ⁤Jones added.

For traveling harvesters, the ​natural​ rhythms of⁤ crop maturation ‌are crucial to ​their work. ‌Without proper​ timing, crops can go bad, falling on​ the ground or ‌sprouting and ⁢rotting.⁣ It’s a‍ challenging situation for these‍ laborers who rely on ⁢just-in-time ⁤operations.

Each May, a procession of #harvest crews⁢ & their ⁣combines​ set off from Texas to cut wheat, following​ south-to-north ‍routes ⁢that have been trod‌ by‌ generations

We ⁢follow some in‍ #Kansas, ⁣where drought has stunted crops & late rains have delayed ⁣their workhttps://t.co/Lw6gcuWWCZ

— Shannon​ (@ShannonNajma) July 18, 2023

The disrupted harvest schedule is ‍not only affecting‌ the farmers⁤ but also their customers.⁢ Greg Doering of the Kansas Farm Bureau highlighted the challenge of managing customers whose fields are ready to be cut while the‍ harvesters are still several hundred ​miles⁢ away.

Kansas ​normally produces about 25% of winter⁢ wheat⁣ in ‍the U.S. ​winter ⁤wheat ⁢crop, but that may not happen‍ this year due to​ prolonged drought.

This U.S. Drought Monitor‍ map ⁢shows⁢ drought ⁤intensity as‍ of June 20,‍ 2023, with 79% of Kansas in⁢ a​ drought. ‌https://t.co/ubJl4x6cZG pic.twitter.com/stDzF6yCh5

— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) June⁢ 23,‌ 2023

Even when the harvesters manage to complete a⁤ field, there is little joy this year⁢ due to the light harvests caused by the⁢ unfavorable ⁣weather conditions. ​The ‌low yield​ translates ‍to⁣ significantly reduced income for the acres they​ do ⁣harvest. ‌This year ‍is proving to be one of ⁤the most⁣ disappointing and challenging⁤ harvests in​ the past 15 years,​ according to Jones.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture concurs​ with ⁢this assessment.⁢ In its July wheat production summary, it stated that‍ this year’s harvest is the ⁤lowest level⁣ of U.S. exports⁣ since 1971/72. ‍For hard red wheat, it would‌ be the second smallest ⁢crop since 1963/64.

It’s truly ⁣”a year to ​remember for all the wrong ⁣reasons” for ​farmers facing a crop disaster as the weather throws a⁤ wrench in their harvesting plans.

The post ‘A Year to Remember⁤ for​ All the Wrong Reasons’:​ Farmers Face ‌Crop Disaster as Weather Throws Wrench in Harvesting ‌Plans appeared‌ first on The Western Journal.

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