Kan. wheat condition deteriorating amid drought

Report: Kansas winter wheat condition deteriorating amid limited moisture in January

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- A new report says January's limited moisture across most of Kansas has caused the winter wheat crop to deteriorate.

The Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 39 percent of the crop was already in poor to very poor condition. Forty-one percent is rated as fair, with 19 percent in good shape and 1 percent in excellent condition.

The lack of significant rainfall has also affected livestock producers.

Stock water supplies are short to very short across 78 percent of Kansas. Many ranchers are hauling water for livestock. Stock ponds are low or dried out.

Concern is also building over pasture conditions amid the lingering drought. The agency reports that 85 percent of Kansas pastures are in poor to very poor shape.