The drought has been a serious problem right now in the United States after the current cool weather has been hindering the growth of winter crops. However, academics are suggesting that they are still experiencing a better condition than last 2012.
According to the Kansas State University, Americans are somehow benefiting from cool temperatures during winter, especially when making crop developments stagnant. Temperatures have reached about 9.7 degrees Fahrenheit and 11.3 degrees Fahrenheit are considered below-normal during the winter. They added that most of the wheat varieties grown in Kansas for the past two seasons have already reached the “hollow stem” stage.
The university pointed out the need for precipitation, especially some parts southwest Kansas that is heavily affected by dry conditions, adding that this is also the place where winter wheat is in a critical state. Crops are already showing drying out leaves and the old tillers may be discontinued sooner if it doesn’t receive rain.
Not that worst compared 2012
The stagnant growth has limited the water need of crops due to the drought in Kansas that made it drier for the past years. The agronomy extension in the university said that increasing temperature of crops in spring is the main reason why crops seem to be benefitting from cooler-than-average temperature.
Satellite figures are suggesting that crops in Kansas have better health than the drought year in 2012, regardless of the drought widespread. It is already made clear that vegetative conditions this season are not that worst than the said year.