The $1 Billion Hit

Wheat field in Chase county Monday evening

KWCH-TV in Wichita just had a sobering report indicating the drought, especially in western Kansas, is going to cost the states's economy $1 billion. Kansas is the #1 wheat producer in the nation. 

Below is the Palmer Drought Index for May 25, so it does not include all of the recent rains. However, it is more representative of the conditions the crop has had to endure. The wheat is in "poor" condition in most of the western third of the state. 

I would expect to see the harvest get fully underway in about two weeks.