Wheat farmers across much of Kansas are counting on Mother Nature for some help, and the sooner the better.

Except for a section through central Kansas, much of the state
is abnormally dry or in an extreme drought, taking a toll on the
state’s wheat crop.

The U.S. Drought Monitor says no improvement is expected through
June, with already-parched western Kansas expected to get worse.

The Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service has rated nearly 40
percent of the wheat crop in poor condition, with only 25 percent
rated good and 2 percent in excellent condition.

A grain manager based in Stanton County told The Hutchinson News Thursday that even an inch of rain won’t make much difference. Matt Overturf says most western Kansas farmers won’t have big crops this year.