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Wheat Farmers See Weakest Harvest in Decades

The wheat harvest is in full swing. But for many farmers, a financial loss is the only thing they expect to reap this year. Persistent drought has parched wheat stands in the western parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, places where wheat was once one of the most reliable cash crops.

"The old adage is 'Wheat has nine lives,' and we've been through 11 of them this year," says Kansas wheat farmer John Thaemert. "So it's been a trying year."

Farmers in parts of Oklahoma have abandoned their wheat fields, reporting the smallest harvest in 50 years. Meanwhile, Texas is experiencing its lowest wheat harvest since 1925.

Rising fuel costs and interest rates are also hitting farmers, most of whom carry heavy debt. And unlike past years, these struggling farmers don't expect federal disaster relief, since weather-related funding is going to the Gulf Coast. Frank Morris of member station KCUR reports.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Frank Morris
[Copyright 2024 NPR]

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.