Released: May 12, 2000
Volume 00, No. 5

Seeding of the 2000 wheat crop began in early September, primarily in the southern and western districts. Soil moisture was short in a number of areas and some producers opted to wait for moisture before seeding. One third of the crop was planted by the end of the month, ahead of both last year and the average. Rain fell Statewide the first of October, with the heaviest amounts reported across the eastern third of the State. Seeding proceeded rapidly during the first half of October, with approximately 90 percent of the crop in by mid-month. The wheat crop condition was reported at 76 percent good to excellent. Dry weather prevailed the last half of October and into November, and seeding was virtually complete by the middle of November. However, condition had declined to 45 percent good to excellent. Mild but dry conditions continued throughout the winter. Most of the State received rain or snow in early March as the crop broke dormancy with warm temperatures. The condition of the crop had decreased slightly to 41 percent good to excellent. Unseasonably warm weather continued throughout March. Most of the State received moisture at the end of the month and condition improved to 54 percent good to excellent. Over 40 percent of the crop was jointing by April 2, well ahead of last year and normal. With additional moisture and warm weather across most of the State during April, nearly all of the crop was jointing and 14 percent had already headed by April 30. Condition of the crop had improved to 55 percent good to excellent.

Table 1-- KANSAS WHEAT PRODUCTION, MAY 1, 2000
District	Acres Planted		Acres Harvested			Yield Per Acre		Production
	1999	2000	1999	2000	% of Prev. Yr	1999	2000	1999	2000	% of Prev. Yr
WINTER WHEAT	- - - - - - - - 1,000 Acres - - - - - - - -				Percent	Bushels		1,000 Bushels		Percent
Northwest	1,100	1,090	1,025	1,030	100	47	45	48,569	46,800	96
West Central	1,217	1,200	1,075	1,125	105	46	45	49,773	50,100	101
Southwest	1,635	1,600	1,470	1,500	102	54	47	79,380	71,100	90
North Central	1,344	1,340	1,250	1,245	100	49	41	60,960	50,600	83
Central	1,590	1,530	1,436	1,425	99	46	45	66,364	63,600	96
South Central	2,384	2,322	2,254	2,200	98	45	44	102,332	96,900	95
Northeast	174	170	170	160	94	44	43	7,562	6,900	91
East Central	157	157	150	150	100	35	35	5,250	5,300	101
Southeast	399	391	370	365	99	33	37	12,210	13,500	111
State	10,000	9,800	9,200	9,200	100	47	44	432,400	404,800	94

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.65 billion bushels, down 3 percent from 1999 (see table 2). Based on May 1 conditions, the U.S. yield is forecast at 47.5 bushels per acre, 0.3 bushels less than last year's record. If realized, this would be the second highest yield on record. Record yields

are forecast in Ohio and North Carolina. Grain area totals 34.7 million acres, down 2 percent from last season. If realized, this will be the smallest winter wheat area since 1971. Dry conditions in Texas have led to abnormally high abandonment.

Table 2-- WINTER WHEAT, KANSAS AND SELECTED STATES, MAY 1, 2000
State	Acreage			Yield Per Acre		Production
	Harvested 1999	For Harvest 2000	% of Prev. Yr.	1999	2000	1999	2000	% of Prev. Yr.
	1,000 Acres		Percent	Bushels		1,000 Bushels		Percent
KANSAS	9,200	9,200	100	47.0	44.0	432,400	404,800	94
Oklahoma	4,300	4,100	95	35.0	38.0	150,500	155,800	104
Washington	1,670	1,750	105	58.0	67.0	96,860	117,250	121
Texas	3,400	2,200	65	36.0	32.0	122,400	70,400	58
Colorado	2,400	2,350	98	43.0	42.0	103,200	98,700	96
Nebraska	1,800	1,750	97	48.0	43.0	86,400	75,250	87
Illinois	1,010	910	90	60.0	55.0	60,600	50,050	83
Missouri	920	920	100	48.0	48.0	44,160	44,160	100
Montana	970	1,430	147	38.0	36.0	36,860	51,480	140
Oregon	630	740	117	47.0	64.0	29,610	47,360	160
United States	35,572	34,709	98	47.8	47.5	1,699,989	1,648,805	97

PASTURE CONDITION

Kansas pasture condition as of May 7 was 7 percent excellent, 57 percent good, 29 percent fair, 6 percent poor, and 1 percent very poor. Over the State, topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent surplus, 72 percent adequate, 21 percent short, and 3 percent very short.

HAY STOCKS

Hay production during 1999 totaled 7.3 million tons, down 10 percent from last year. As of May 1, Kansas hay stocks totaled 1,400,000 tons, down from 1,525,000 tons last year but above the 889,000 tons two years ago .

COTTON

Kansas farmers planted 33,000 acres of cotton in 1999 and harvested 28,000 acres. The average yield of 375 pounds of lint resulted in 21,900 480- pound bales, a 58 percent increase over the 13,900 bales produced in 1998

Doug Hartwig and Ron Sitzman, Agricultural Statisticians
Eldon J. Thiessen, State Statistician
Eddie Wells, Deputy State Statistician

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