By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Half of county in moderate to severe drought
Dr. Victor Martin
Dr. Victor Martin

The U.S. Drought Monitor report as of Tuesday, Oct. 20, indicates some beneficial effects of last week’s rain.

Conditions are virtually unchanged from the previous report, with just a tad less severe drought.

Almost half of Barton County and much of the surrounding area to the south range from moderate to severe drought.

The northern third of Barton County is exceptionally dry.

The six- to 10-day forecast (Oct. 27-31) indicates a 40% to 50% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a 40% to 50% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation.

The eight- to 14-day forecast (Oct. 29-Nov. 4) indicates a 40% to 50% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a continued 40% to 50% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation.

Above-average temperatures mean the upper 70s to low 80s, which is not terrible for establishing wheat.

The chance of above-normal precipitation is good news, but remember that normal for October and November here is less than two inches.

Without a hard frost in the near future, wheat, especially later-planted wheat, has a decent chance to establish its root system and tillers.

Today, what’s on the table for producers this fall and early winter?

It’s hard to believe it will be November in a week, and while harvest is winding down, there is still plenty for producers to accomplish.

  • We are at the back end of the preferred planting window for wheat. However, given the outlook for the next several weeks, soil moisture and a relatively decent price for wheat, a producer considering wheat has a good chance of establishing a decent root and tiller system heading into winter. It might pay to bump up the seeding rate a bit, say 25%. The most important factor to consider is soil moisture. Moisture conditions south of the river aren’t as good, especially on the sandier soils. North of the river, most fields range from decent soil moisture to excessive, and it’s never wise to mud wheat in.
  • It’s also a good time of year to soil test, except for nitrogen and sulfur. The caveat is when you typically sample. If you are a spring sampler, don’t. However, whether testing in fall or spring, it’s an excellent time to see where fields stand regarding pH, potassium, phosphorus and base saturation of the cation exchange complex.
  • More and more producers have adopted strip tillage to combine the benefits of no-till with those of tilling a narrow strip for the seed row. Fall and early winter are excellent times because they allow the strip to settle and mellow over winter. A producer also can place fertilizer in the strip instead of at planting, hopefully while prices are lower in the offseason.
  • Many producers will also be determining what to plant next spring and how many acres. Many seed companies offer good discounts for ordering now. It also can be a good time to consider locking in chemical needs for the 2027 crop year.

Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor and coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207, or martinv@bartonccc.edu.