Tour Explanation | Day One Report | Day Two Report | Final Estimate

Six different areas were toured the first day, resulting in six major estimates of wheat yields:

After the first day of the tour, the Kansas average yield was estimated at 43.8 bushels per acre. This estimate is 9.6 less bushels per acre than last year's day one estimate of 53.4 bushels per acre.

The Kansas wheat crop is estimated to be in decent shape along the northern third central area of the state but goes into worsening condition as it moves westward. Drought stress from last year resulting in a later planted crop has led to an underdeveloped crop on the western half of the state that has also been stressed by freeze damage in recent weeks.

Deb Bollman's car was on the yellow route or mostly along Highway 18 across the state from east to west. The largest yield was estimated in Lincoln County at 57.6 bushels per acre while the next to largest yield that was dark green in color and full was in the same county and estimated at 50.8 bushels per acre. The lowest yield was estimated in Thomas County and was estimated at 12.5 bushels per acre. No real diseases were seen, and rain in the western part of the state was the greatest need for the crop at this time. The average yield was 38.2 bushels per acre for her car while the eyeball average was 32. It was estimated to be 60 days at least until harvest.

Area 1(Northwest and north central Kansas/southern Nebraska)
Counties: Riley, Cloud, Republic, Thayer, Knox, Webster, Franklin, Harlan, Nuckolls, Phillips, Norton, Decatur, Sheridan, Thomas

Yield estimates ranged from 9.0 to 75.0 bushels with the average being 39.6 bushels.

Area 2 (Kansas)
Counties: Riley, Clay, Washington, Republic, Jewell, Smith, Phillips, Norton, Decatur, Rawlins, Thomas

Yield estimates ranged from 0 to 81.0 bushels with the average being 47.2 bushels.

Area 3 (Kansas)
Riley, Geary, Dickinson, Saline, Ottawa, Cloud, Mitchell, Osborne, Rooks, Graham, Sheridan, Thomas

Yield estimates ranged from 24.0 to 72.0 bushels with the average being 47 bushels.

Area 4 (Kansas)
Counties: Riley, Geary, Dickinson, Saline, Ottawa, Lincoln, Russell, Rooks, Graham, Sheridan and Thomas

Yield estimates ranged from 13.0 to 68.0 bushels with the average being 41.5 bushels.

Area 5 (Kansas)
Counties: Riley, Geary, Dickinson, Saline, McPherson, Ellsworth, Rice, Barton, Rush, Ellis, Rooks, Graham, Sheridan, Thomas

Yield estimates ranged from 13.0 to 77.0 bushels with the average being 41.8 bushels.

Area 6 (Kansas)
Counties: Riley, Geary, Dickinson, Marion, McPherson, Rice, Barton, Rush, Ness, Trego, Graham, Sheridan and Thomas

Yield estimates ranged from 21.0 to 79.0 bushels with the average being 44.4 bushels.

Nebraska
Caroline Brauer with the Nebraska Wheat Board estimated the Nebraska wheat crop at 20 to 40 bushels per acre with a 30-range bushel per acre average. Moisture was regarded as "too little too late" for some areas.

Colorado
Darryl Hanavan the Executive Director of the Colorado Wheat Association gave a report, estimating the bushel per acre average at 34, with the crop looking much worse south of I-70 than north.

Crop participants were told by Agronomist Jim Shroyer to see much worse looking wheat around Dodge City on day two and check the lower stems of the plant around Pratt, KS. "If the crop comes up after January you can expect to take off 40 to 60% of the yield," said Shroyer.

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