Kansas wheat growers met to evaluate a season disrupted by late rains, early armyworm pressure and frost. Planting in some areas was pushed back about ten days, while other regions reported fall harvest roughly 80% complete. Leaders said stands look promising in many fields but cautioned about volunteer wheat, pest pressure and the risk of wheat streak mosaic virus. Acreage is generally flat or slightly down amid price uncertainty.
‘It’s Been a Struggle’: Kansas Wheat Growers Face Late Rains, Armyworms and Frost
Kansas wheat growers met to evaluate a season disrupted by late rains, early armyworm pressure and frost. Planting in some areas was pushed back about ten days, while other regions reported fall harvest roughly 80% complete. Leaders said stands look promising in many fields but cautioned about volunteer wheat, pest pressure and the risk of wheat streak mosaic virus. Acreage is generally flat or slightly down amid price uncertainty.
12:05, 07.11.2025Economy
WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas wheat growers review a challenging season
Kansas wheat producers met last week to assess crop progress after a season marked by shifting weather patterns, pest pressure and compressed planting windows. Representatives from the Kansas Wheat Commission and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers focused on wheat drilling and the fall harvest, and on how unseasonal rains and variable planting opportunities affected stands and schedules.
Regional snapshots
- Southwest Kansas: Gary Millershaski of Lakin said late summer rains pushed planting back roughly ten days but left fields in generally good condition heading into winter. "Our wheat went in about ten days later than normal," Millershaski, a former commission chairman, said. "We’ve got good stands everywhere, just not as much growth, and with it cold right now, we’ll see what happens." He added that crop rotation has trimmed some acreage but soil moisture is favorable.
- Northwest Kansas: Chris Tanner of Norton, president of the growers association, reported early armyworm pressure. Farmers largely managed the outbreaks and controlled volunteer wheat. Despite some acreage declines tied to price uncertainty, Tanner expressed cautious optimism, noting that "the August rains made a huge difference."
- Central Kansas: Derek Sawyer of McPherson described a difficult stretch with rain, frost and a mix of volunteer and newly planted wheat complicating stands. "It’s been a struggle," Sawyer, chairman of the commission, said. He noted acreage is roughly flat to slightly down and warned that wheat streak mosaic virus could become a concern if conditions favor its spread.
- Other areas: Martin Kerschen of Garden Plain said persistent rains delayed fall harvest and pushed back planting timelines, while Doug Keesling in Chase reported faster progress and estimated the region at about 80 percent complete with fall harvest. Keesling noted healthy stands and decent moisture but cautioned that volunteer wheat from nearby fields could create management challenges.
Key takeaways
Overall, growers reported generally promising stands in many areas despite late planting and weather challenges, but they remain vigilant about pests, volunteer wheat and disease risks such as wheat streak mosaic virus. Acreage is largely flat or slightly down amid market uncertainty.
Growers and industry leaders will continue monitoring conditions through the winter and into spring to gauge final yield potential. For local updates on weather and harvest progress, visit KSN-TV and the Kansas Wheat Commission resources.
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