Explore

1Weather 1Weather
Northern Kansas Wheat Yield Projected Below Average Amid Drought Stress

Northern Kansas Wheat Yield Projected Below Average Amid Drought Stress

Crop scouts participating in the Wheat Quality Council's annual tour of Kansas have reported a significant decline in projected wheat yields for the northern half of the state. The survey, which examined 187 fields between Manhattan and Colby, estimated an average yield of 38.3 bushels per acre (bpa) for hard red winter wheat. This figure is notably below the five-year tour average of 45.7 bpa and last year's estimate of 50.5 bpa. Severe drought conditions, coupled with extreme weather events such as freezes and high temperatures, have caused the wheat plants to mature prematurely, impacting both yield and protein quality. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has forecast Kansas' 2026 wheat harvest at 214.6 million bushels, marking the second-smallest crop since 1989. Observations from the tour revealed widespread drought stress, with yellowed and stunted wheat stands across the region.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Kansas Department of Agriculture Updates Noxious Weed List, Impacting Land Management

Kansas Department of Agriculture Updates Noxious Weed List, Impacting Land Management

The Kansas Department of Agriculture has implemented updates to the state's Noxious Weed List, effective this month. These changes, guided by the Noxious Weed Advisory Committee, involve revising weed designations and control methods, affecting landowners and county governments responsible for land management. The updates include the removal of pignut from the list and the addition of several species across three categories: spotted knapweed and diffuse knapweed as Category A noxious weeds, common teasel and cutleaf teasel as Category B, and Amur honeysuckle as Category C. The classification system aims to identify and manage invasive weeds before they become widespread problems. Landowners are required by law to control designated noxious weeds using approved methods, and the changes may necessitate new management practices for some.
Trendline Trendline
NCAA Announces Qualifiers for 2026 Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships

NCAA Announces Qualifiers for 2026 Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships

NCAA Announces Qualifiers for 2026 Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Trendline Trendline
Kansas State Employees Retain Health Insurance Options with Blue Cross and Aetna

Kansas State Employees Retain Health Insurance Options with Blue Cross and Aetna

Kansas State Employees Retain Health Insurance Options with Blue Cross and Aetna
1Weather 1Weather
U.S. Winter Wheat Faces Historic Lows Amid Severe Drought Conditions

U.S. Winter Wheat Faces Historic Lows Amid Severe Drought Conditions

The U.S. winter wheat crop is experiencing historically poor conditions, with 40% of the crop rated as poor or very poor, according to the USDA. This marks one of the rare instances since 1998 where such a high percentage of the crop has been in poor condition. The situation is attributed to a combination of severe drought and freeze damage. Drought coverage across the lower 48 states exceeded 60% for several weeks, peaking at nearly 63% in April 2026, as reported by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Winter wheat production is forecast to drop by 25% compared to last year, with the harvested-to-planted ratio at a historically low 67.9%. States such as Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas are among the hardest hit, with over half of their winter wheat crops rated poor or very poor.
Trendline Trendline
ONE Gas to Engage with Investment Community at American Gas Association Financial Forum

ONE Gas to Engage with Investment Community at American Gas Association Financial Forum

ONE Gas to Engage with Investment Community at American Gas Association Financial Forum
1Weather 1Weather
Severe Spring Drought Threatens U.S. Wheat Crops

Severe Spring Drought Threatens U.S. Wheat Crops

A worsening spring drought is significantly impacting agricultural regions across the United States, with wheat farmers in Kansas and vegetable growers in Georgia among the hardest hit. According to a report by Time, over 60% of the contiguous U.S. experienced moderate drought or worse last month, with the Southeast seeing exceptional drought conditions in nearly 99.81% of the region. Farmers are facing reduced yields and increased costs, exacerbated by global factors such as rising fertilizer prices linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran. In Kansas, prolonged dry weather has led to the abandonment of hard red winter wheat acres, while Oklahoma's winter wheat crop is also under severe stress. The USDA has forecasted that this year’s wheat acreage will be the lowest since 1919, raising concerns about food supply and economic stability in affected areas.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Asteroid 2026JH2 to Pass Close to Earth, Posing No Immediate Threat

Asteroid 2026JH2 to Pass Close to Earth, Posing No Immediate Threat

Asteroid 2026JH2, a space rock with the potential to cause significant damage, is set to pass by Earth next week. The asteroid will come within 90,917 kilometers of Earth, which is about a quarter of the distance to the moon. This close approach has been closely monitored by astronomers, who assure that it poses no immediate threat to the planet. The asteroid, estimated to be between 16 and 36 meters in diameter, was recently discovered by observatories in Arizona and Kansas.
Trendline Trendline
Buc-Ee's Expands Gas Station Chain to Six New States, Bringing Jobs and Snacks

Buc-Ee's Expands Gas Station Chain to Six New States, Bringing Jobs and Snacks

Buc-Ee's Expands Gas Station Chain to Six New States, Bringing Jobs and Snacks
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Former Kansas Mayor Ordered to ICE Detention for Voting as Non-Citizen

Former Kansas Mayor Ordered to ICE Detention for Voting as Non-Citizen

Joe Ceballos, the former mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, has been ordered to report to federal immigration detention after pleading guilty to voting illegally as a non-citizen. Ceballos, a permanent legal resident, mistakenly believed he was allowed to vote due to his residency status. He pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges and faces potential deportation. Ceballos has lived in the U.S. since immigrating from Mexico at age four and has been a prominent community figure. His attorney, Jess Hoeme, criticizes the detention order as unjust, given Ceballos' long-standing ties to the community.
Reuters Reuters
How Republicans are winning the war over US congressional redistricting, state by state

How Republicans are winning the war over US congressional redistricting, state by state

By Joseph Ax May 11 (Reuters) - Several Republican-led states across the South are rushing to redraw their congressional maps ahead of November's midterm elections in a bid to help save their party's narrow majority in the U.S.