What’s Happening With Kansas Crops?

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, July 14. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Kansas’s most important crops in mid-July.

Weather

Kansas State Extension agronomist Logan Simon, in a recent Agriculture Today – Kansas State University podcast, said that South Central Kansas had significant storm damage recently that wiped out a good amount of clean-till cotton in the area. 

In Monday’s Crop Progress report, USDA said farmers had 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork the week that ended July 13, compared to 6.3 days this time last year.

USDA rated Kansas topsoil moisture 5% very short, 20% short, 68% adequate, and 7% surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions in the state were rated 7% very short, 21% short, 67% adequate, and 5% surplus.

Corn

Acreage Estimates

According to the June 30 Acreage report, Kansas farmers planted 6.2 million acres of corn in 2025. This is down about 100,000 acres from the previous year, said USDA.

Pest and Disease Pressure

A map published by the Crop Protection Network shows there are seven positive tar spot cases so far. The following counties have been affected.

• Doniphan County — reported June 11
• Brown County — reported June 17
• Jefferson County — reported June 25
• Atchison County — reported July 2
• Republic County — reported July 7
• Marshall County — reported July 9
• Jackson County — reported July 15

According to Jeff Whitworth, Kansas State crop entomologist, in an Agriculture Today podcast, fall armyworms and armyworms are prevalent in South Central Kansas. 

Right now, he says they are feeding, but there will be one or two more generations to go.

“You need to be monitoring your crops to see what stage they’re in. If the larvae are large, about an inch to an inch and a quarter, they won’t be feeding for much longer. Their size has a big impact on when, or if, you want to treat. Control is more effective when they are small,” Whitworth said. 

He suggests scouting for armyworms or fall armyworms at night. 

Anthony Zukoff, Kansas State Extension entomologist, said western bean cutworms are also an issue in another recent Agriculture Today podcast.

“We’ve got a lot of fields tasseling in Western Kansas right now, and the western bean cutworm overwinters in the soil as pupa and about this time of year, adult moths are going be emerging from the soil and they’re going to be gravitating towards cornfields,” he explained. 

Around tasseling, females lay eggs in cornfields, and the resulting caterpillars migrate to developing ears, Zukoff said. They consume developing kernels and clip silks, so they reduce yield. 

Silking Progress

USDA reported that 51% of Kansas’s corn crop has reached the silk growth stage. That is slightly better than the five-year average of 47%. Last year at this time 57% of the state’s corn had reached the silk growth stage.

Corn Dough

The latest Crop Progress report said 11% of Kansas’s corn crop has reached the dough stage. That is slightly better than the five-year average of 11%. Last year at this time 14% of the state’s corn had reached the dough stage.

Corn Condition

USDA rated Kansas corn 1% very poor, 5% poor, 25% fair, 51% good, and 18% excellent for the week that ended July 13.

This is similar to the national average rating, which is 1% very poor, 4% poor, 21% fair, 57% good, and 17% excellent.

Soybeans

Acreage Estimates

The Acreage report published June 30 said Kansas planted 4.4 million acres of soybeans this year. That is down 130,000 acres from 2024.

Blooming Progress

The latest Crop Progress report said 38% of Kansas soybeans are blooming. That is marginally better than the five-year average of 37%, and 36% this time last year. 

Soybeans Setting Pods

Although 15% of the nation’s soybeans have reached the pod growth stage, Kansas is behind at 6%. 

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Soybean Condition

USDA rated Kansas soybeans 1% very poor, 4% poor, 26% fair, 58% good, and 11% excellent for the week that ended July 13.

This is on par with the national average rating of 1% very poor, 4% poor, 25% fair, 58% good, and 12% excellent over the same time period.

Cotton

Acreage Estimates

The USDA Acreage Report said Kansas planted 140,000 acres of cotton, up 9,000 acres from last year. 

Cotton Squaring

Kansas State Extension Agronomist Logan Simon said in an Agriculture Today podcast, “So cotton in the state of Kansas has been somewhat behind compared to past years, but as of this week, we are firmly into squaring across most of the state. What that means is we are finally reaching that point in the growth and development of cotton where we’re getting that crop moving through reproductive stages. A little bit behind where we were last year but we’re happy to see that crop moving through squaring here. Overall, we’re looking at a pretty solid crop across the state.” 

The latest Crop Progress report said 45% of Kansas cotton is squaring, compared to 72% last year. That is behind the five-year average of 68%. 

Cotton Setting Bolls

USDA reported 6% of Kansas cotton is setting bolls, compared to 33% last year. That is behind the five-year average of 13%.

Cotton Condition

USDA rated Kansas cotton 13% poor, 43% fair, 33% good, and 11% excellent for the week that ended July 13. None were rated as very poor.

Kansas cotton is similar to the national average rating of 7% very poor, 10% poor, 29% fair, 45% good, and 9% excellent over the same time period.

Sorghum

Acreage Estimates

The USDA Acreage Report said Kansas planted 2.9 million acres of sorghum, down 100,000 acres from last year. 

Sorghum Headed

USDA reported 5% of Kansas sorghum is headed, compared to 12% last year. That is behind of the five-year average of 10%.

Sorghum Coloring

No sorghum were reported coloring, though last year had 3% and the five-year average is 1%. 

Sorghum Condition

USDA rated Kansas sorghum 1% very poor, 3% poor, 32% fair, 49% good, and 15% excellent for the week that ended July 13. 

Kansas sorghum is similar to the six-state average rating of 1% very poor, 3% poor, 27% fair, 53% good, and 16% excellent over the same time period.

Winter Wheat 

Acreage Estimates

USDA’s acreage report said Kansas farmers planted 7.3 million acres of wheat in 2025. That is down 300,000 acres from last year.

Winter Wheat Harvested

USDA noted 93% of winter wheat has been harvested in Kansas. This is ahead of the five-year average of 88%. Last year at this time 96% of Kansas winter wheat had harvested.

Pasture and Range

USDA rated pasture and range conditions in the state 3% very poor, 10% poor, 28% fair, 49% good, and 10% excellent.