An extended period of dry weather continued unabated across portions of Central and South Central Kansas during the month of October 2011, as most of the area saw below normal levels of precipitation. Some rainfall did fall across South Central Kansas during the beginning of the month, which brought some relief, but overall rainfall was disappointing, with most areas seeing rainfall amounts one to three inches below normal. Areas south and west of Wichita continued to remain very dry, keeping this area in an exceptional drought (D4), while others areas across Central Kansas remain in an extreme drought (D3). Other areas across the Flint Hills dried out even further during the second half of the month going from a severe drought (D2) to an extreme drought (D3). This is a continuation of the widespread drought that has been on going across the Plains for the past six months.

Drought in BUTLER, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The extreme drought (D3) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of October.  The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of August 30th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer months into October. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in COWLEY, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Extreme drought (D3) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of October.  The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of August 30th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer months into October.  Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in GREENWOOD, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of October and lasted the rest of the month. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of October 18th.

Drought in WILSON, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of October and lasted the rest of the month. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of October 18th.

Drought in WOODSON, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of October and lasted the rest of the month. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of October 18th.

Drought in ELLSWORTH, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Severe drought (D2), continued across Central Kansas during the month of October. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July.  Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in LABETTE, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of October. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July.  Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them.  Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators reported received only half as much grain as it does in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought in ELK, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across the Flint Hills and Southeast Kansas during the first part of October and lasted the rest of the month. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of October 18th.

Drought in ALLEN, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across the Flint Hills and Southeast Kansas during the first part of October and lasted the rest of the month. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of October 18th.

Drought in MONTGOMERY, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of October and lasted the rest of the month. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of October 18th.

Drought in ALLEN, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of October and lasted the rest of the month. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of October 18th.

Drought in NEOSHO, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of October and lasted the rest of the month. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of October 18th.

Drought in HARPER, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of October. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer into October.   Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in CHASE, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Severe drought (D2), continued across Central Kansas during the month of October. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July.  Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months.

Drought in SUMNER, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of September. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer into October.   Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in RENO, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of September. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer into October.   Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in HARVEY, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of September. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer into October.   Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in RICE, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of September. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer into October.   Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in SEDGWICK, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of September. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer into October.   Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in KINGMAN, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of September. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer into October.   Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in BARTON, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Some improvement to the extreme drought (D3) occurred across Central Kansas during the first part of the month, as welcome rainfall fell across the area improving drought conditions to a severe drought (D2). The Severe drought continued the rest of the month of October.  The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of August 30th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer months into October. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in MARION, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Some improvement to the extreme drought (D3) occurred across Central Kansas during the first part of the month, as welcome rainfall fell across the area improving drought conditions to a severe drought (D2). The Severe drought continued the rest of the month of October.  The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of August 30th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer months into October. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.

Drought in MCPHERSON, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-11 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Newspaper

Extreme drought (D3) continued across Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of October.  The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer months into October.  Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Winter wheat planting increased, as farmers planted hundreds of thousands more acres, through failed corn and soybean crops.