S U N D AY, J A N U A RY 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

3A
News
Farmers benefit from record precipitation in 2015
L&T

news@hpleader.com

By ROBERT PIERCE
Leader &Times

Rain ...

The record precipitation seen in Liberal

in 2015 proved to be much of a help to
many area farmers.
Seward County K-State Extension Ag
Agent Kylee Harrison said overall, local
crop yields were higher than 2014s, and
O Continued from Page 1A
that trend seem to hold throughout the
state.
ments to all the extra moisture received.
Based on Nov. 1 conditions, Kansass
There is one detriment and thats with
2015 corn crop was forecast at 570 million
more rain comes more weed growth and
bushels, up one percent from last years
we have to control the weeds more and so
production, according to the USDAs
on, Hatcher admitted. Ive also seen
National Agricultural Statistics Service.
more tractor activity in the fields this past
The area to be harvested for grain, at 3.85
summer and more spraying operations.
million acres, is up 1 percent from a year
Another benefit is weve seen a huge
ago. Yield was forecast at 148 bushels per
increase in pheasants and quail but with
acre, down 1 bushel from last year.
that, weve also seen a huge increase in the
Sorghum for grain in Kansas was forecast
mouse population and rabbits and everyat 277 million bushels, up 39 percent from
thing else that comes with nature.
last year. Area for harvest, at 3.15 million
Along with the bountiful harvest
acres, is up 17 percent from 2014. Record
farmers had, which Hatcher said he is
tying yield was forecast at 88 bushels per
extremely grateful for, he said he would
acre, up 14 bushels from last year.
also like to see commodity prices come up
Kansass soybean production was
a little bit to help both the local and
forecast at 148 million bushels, up 5
national economies.
percent from last year. Area for harvest, at
Weve had what you could call a 103.90 million acres, is 2 percent below 2014.
year drought weve gone through and
Yield is forecast at 38 bushels per acre, up
hopefully, that cycle has been broken and
2.5 bushels from last year.
well be in a wetter weather pattern,
Some crops dropped slightly or were
Hatcher said. I know Farmers Almanac
unchanged from 2014s yield numbers,
is calling for I believe a wetter spring but
though.
then later in the summer in July and
Cotton production in Kansas was
August its supposed to dry up and get
forecast at 24,000 bales, down 50 percent
warm so well be planning accordingly. But
from last year according to the USDAs
I hope we broke that drought pattern and
National Agricultural Statistics Service. Walking in the rain seldom is a problem in Southwest Kansas during normal years of rainfall. However, last years record
hopefully well be back in a wetter cycle.
Harvested acres, at 15,000 acres, are down provided numerous days of having to deal with heavy rainfall. One day in June saw 5 inches in less than 6 hours, and Mays
48 percent from 2014. Yield is forecast at total was 13.37. Courtesy photo
768 pounds per harvested acre, down 26
117 million pounds, up 28 percent from percent from a year ago. Yield of 1.80 tons not able to work with the muddy condi- muddy, she said.
pounds from last year.
Last year likewise saw much in the way
tions. Harrison said this was very little, if
Dry edible bean production in Kansas last year. Acreage for harvest, at 78,000 per acre, is up 0.20 ton from 2014.
of severe weather with many area
Winter wheat production was forecast at any, problem for most area farmers.
was forecast at 210,000 hundredweight acres, is up 19,000 acres from 2014.
Much of the rain was early enough in tornadoes and even a few hail storms
Yield was forecast at 1,498 pounds per 334 million bushels, up 36 percent from
(cwt) for 2015, up 79 percent from last
year. Total planted area, at 8,000 acres, is acre, down 54 pounds per acre from a year last years crop. Area for grain, at 8.8 the summer that it did not affect harvest pounding the area. For the most part, the
up 500 acres from last year. Harvested ago. Of the acres for harvest, non-oil million acres, is unchanged from last year. crops, she said. It definitely helped the storms did little in the way of damage to
crops, but Harrison did say one event in
acres, at 7,800 acres, are up 900 acres from sunflowers account for 25,000 acres and oil Yield is forecast at 38 bushels per acre, 10 wheat.
Harrison said for some, however, the particular did some.
bushels above last year.
2014. The forecasted yield for 2015 was sunflowers account for 53,000 acres.
The Memorial Day weekend storm
Oats production is forecast at 1.20 rains came too late.
Alfalfa hay production, at 2.47 million
2,690 pounds per harvested acre, 980
The wheat had already burnt up, she definitely showed some hail damage
tons, is up 8 percent from the 2014 crop. million bushels, up 43 percent from 2014.
pounds higher than last year.
around the county, she said.
Pinto beans account for 80 percent of Area for harvest, at 650,000 acres, is up 8 Yield, at 60 bushels per acre, is forecast to said.
With 2015 now in the rearview mirror for
Harrison said some farmers did have a
the total production; at 167,000 cwt, they percent from a year ago. Yield of 3.80 tons be up 4 bushels per acre from a year ago.
farmers, producers are looking forward to
are up from 92,000 cwt in 2014. All other per acre was unchanged from 2014. All Acreage for harvest, at 20,000 acres, is up problem getting field work done.
The moisture that came later this year 2016 crop harvest, and if Fridays snow is
bean classes represent 20 percent of the other hay production, at 3.24 million tons, 5,000 acres from last year.
Of course, having extra moisture in the made it hard to get into the field for many any indication, this year could be just as
is up 19 percent from 2014. Area for
states total production.
All sunflower production was forecast at harvest, at 1.80 million acres, is up 6 field can also be a drawback, with farmers farmers because it was too wet and wet and just as productive.

Huelskamp named new

chairman of small business
subcommittee
This new role will provide
Huelskamp opportunities
to highlight topics
important to Kansas small
businesses
Special to the Leader & Times

WASHINGTON Today the

House Small Business Committee
announced that Congressman Tim
Huelskamp (KS-01) has been
named the new chairman of
thesSubcommittee on Economic
Growth, Tax and Capital Access.
Huelskamp said of his new chairmanship, From family farms, to
small manufacturers and our
community banks, small businesses
are the lifeblood of the Kansas
economy. It will be an honor to
serve as chairman of this subcommittee and shine a light on issues
that are so important to our way of
life. As chairman, I will invite small
business owners, employees,
farmers, bankers, and others to give
their insight how the federal
government can work better for
them, or simply just get out of their
way.
This new role will provide
Huelskamp opportunities to
highlight topics important to
Kansas small businesses, the
backbone of the states economy.
Huelskamps priorities include
evaluating the current tax code that
is hurting small businesses, halting
harmful regulations on farmers and
many other small businesses, such
as the radical Waters of the U.S.
rule, and reducing the burden of
Dodd-Franks overregulation of the
community banks upon which our
small businesses rely.
Congressman
Huelskamps
appointment to the Economic
Growth, Tax and Capital Access
Subcommittee
will
have
immediate, positive implications.

HUELSKAMP
Regulatory accountability has been
lacking, environmental review
needs improving, and local voice
has been subordinated to bureau-

cratic agendas, said Jim Carlson of

Stillwater Technical Solutions and
the Kansas Natural Resource
Coalition. Carlson is based in
Garden City.
Congressman
Huelskamp
listens to his constituents first and
foremost, said Chairman Chabot,
the Chairman of the full Small
Business Committee. Thats what
small businesses need from their
representatives in Washington, and
that is what will make him a great
leader for the Economic Growth,
Tax and Capital Access Subcommittee.
This marks another recent victory
for conservatives under new House
Speaker Ryan. In December,
Congressman Huelskamp was also
elected by his colleagues to the
powerful
House
Steering
Committee which makes selections
for all other House Committees.

Man charged with stealing thousands of pounds of candy

HESPERIA, Calif. (AP) Candy might not be
so sweet for a Southern California man.
Jesus Ibarra of Hesperia was arrested Thursday
after authorities say they found his garage full of
stolen sweets. He was freed on bail but couldnt
be reached for comment at his home Friday.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise says Mars
Candy Co. sweets that hadnt passed inspection
were supposed to be trucked to a location in San

Bernardino County for destruction but when the

truck arrived, 7,500 pounds of candy were
missing.
The Sheriffs Department says investigators
caught a break when ads starting turning up
online.
That led to Ibarras home. Authorities say his
garage had been turned into a candy store with 30
racks of boxed candy labeled with prices.

2016 is tHE YEAR

you begin your future.

Subscribe to the
Leader & Times at 6260840 your
hometown award-winning daily newspaper

Seward
S
eward
dC
County
ou
untty CCommunity
ommunit y College
C ollege
Area
A r ea TTechnical
e chnical School
S cho o l
Enrollment oopen
Enrollment
pen thr
through
ough Ja
January
nuary 15.5. VISIT US ONLINE
ONLINE,, check ou
outt our sp
spring
pring cclasses,
lasses,
videoss oonn YYouTube!
ttake
ake a virtual
virtual tour, and
and view
view our monthly
moonthly video
ouTube!

www.sccc.edu
www
sccc
sccc.edu
s edu
620-417-1102
1102 www.s