Report: Kansas wheat, livestock faring mostly well so far this winter

Kansas wheat crops and livestock are in generally positive shape so far this winter, a government report shows.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 44 percent of the state's winter wheat crop is in good to excellent condition. Another 44 percent is rated in fair condition. Just 12 percent is reported in poor or very poor shape.

Temperatures this past month have averaged between 4 and 8 degrees below normal in eastern Kansas, while the western portion remained near normal, NASS said.

The latest update comes as a blanket of snow covers much of Kansas, replenishing soil moisture as it slowly melts. The heaviest snows in recent weeks have come in the northeast. Topsoil moisture was rated as adequate in 58 percent of the state, while subsoil moisture was rated as adequate in 47 percent.

The agency also generally gave high marks to the condition of livestock in Kansas, where animals are grazing on crop residue with supplemental feeding reported. It reported that 67 percent of the state's cattle and calves were in good or excellent condition. About 31 percent were reported as fair, and 2 percent rated in poor condition.

About 70 percent of the state's sheep and lambs were reported to be in good to excellent shape. The rest were reported in fair condition.