Approximately 22 million acres of wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, alfalfa, sunflowers, and other crops are harvested each year in Kansas generating approximately three billion dollars of economic revenue for Agriculture Producers and the State.

Alan Schlegel - Tribune Unit

However, the harsh and diverse climate that characterizes Kansas makes production of these crops both challenging and risky. Annual rainfall varies from 16 inches on the western border to over 40 inches in the Southeast corner. Evapo-transpiration potentials exceed 60 inches in much of western Kansas, and both heat and cold damage crops regularly.

Western Kansas Performance Tests

Historically, wheat and sorghum were the two crops most widely grown in the drier western region of the state, with fallows used to store water between crops to enhance success. In the east, corn was the predominant crop. One of the primary objectives of this program has been to reduce fallow acres in the west and to diversify and intensify the crop mix statewide using conventional and alternative crops to add flexibility and profit potential. Another priority has been to enhance the production efficiency of individual crops through improved sustainable practices to increase competitiveness.