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Another blow to the Plains’ wheat crop

Freezing temperatures as far south as central Texas this week may have caused further damage to the Great Plains’ winter wheat crop.

However, agronomists say damage to the crop may not be apparent for another week to 10 days.

There are a number of factors that determine the extent of freeze damage in wheat, including the duration of low temperatures, soil moisture and stage of development.  Wheat in the jointing stage is most at risk and, as of Sunday, the Kansas wheat crop was 31 percent jointed with Oklahoma at 80 percent jointed.

The Plains’ wheat crop was already suffering from drought and the winter’s extreme cold.  A Bloomberg report prior to this week’s freeze indicated many wheat fields were showing the worst amount of damage in five years.