A few months ago, 2.52 inches of rain would have been a welcome sight for thirst-stricken wheat crops. But now, with cutters trying to get into fields to harvest what's left of the crop, the rain is not only too little, too late, but area farmers say it could be detrimental to any dryland wheat that remains.



"The rain came too late to help the dryland wheat, but it has helped the irrigated wheat," said David Coltrain, Finney County Extension Agent. He added that it is a foregone conclusion the condition of dryland wheat cannot improve at this stage.



In fact, being forced to delay the harvest due to rain could cause the quality of the wheat that remains to deteriorate and further depress yields. The rain may also spur weed growth, which can get mixed into the harvest.



Still, having any rain at all is a good feeling. "While a steady dose of rain is still hit or miss, and a dry spell can happen at any time, it's great to have precipitation to make everyone feel like it can still rain here," Coltrain said.



Figures released�recently by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service revised wheat harvest predictions downward 2 percent for winter wheat, at an estimated 1.38 billion bushels, and downward 3 percent for hard red winter wheat, at an estimated 720 million bushels.



In Kansas, the average yields are predicted to be 29 bushels per acre, down 9 bushels from last year, and the lowest since 1996. The nationwide average was predicted to be 42.4 bushels per acre.



The NASS Kansas Crop Progress and Condition report dated June 9 rated winter wheat conditions at 28 percent very poor, 35 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 10 percent good and 1 percent excellent.



While the rain cannot help dryland wheat much at this stage of things, Doug Mai, a farmer just south of Pierceville, said the rain�helped his corn and milo-sorghum crop.



"It (the rain) helped finish out the irrigated wheat, but dryland wheat is already gone," said Mai, 39. "But it helped the milo and corn."



Mai said his dryland crops are on par with last year's yield, but added that recent precipitation brings optimism for showers in the future for the next yield.



According to the USDA NASS Kansas corn conditions, 26 percent rated very poor, 45 percent fair, 42 percent good, 5 percent excellent. Milo planted was 50 percent in 2014, which is behind the 59 percent yearly average.



Along with heavy rain, a recent storm brought an onslaught of hail that Mai said his crops were able to avoid. However, Dennis Zerr wasn't so lucky.



"The hail�we had ... reduced my yield about 15 percent," said Zerr, 64, who farms 10 miles east of Garden City.



Zerr echoed Coltrain and Mai in�stating that the rain came too late to improve wheat conditions at this point, although it has improved conditions for corn and milo. He�added that the dryland wheat is either mature or growing close to maturity as it nears harvest.



He added, "This is the third year in a row that the wheat has been well below average."



Zerr noted: "A lot of variables go into farming. Whether it's feeding, fertilizer, timing, or a host of other things, the most important is the weather. That's more important than anything. You can't control it, and you just have to accept it."



Brooks�is a reporter at the Garden City Telegram.