In the western third of the state, meanwhile, timely rains -- on top of the cushion of moisture left behind when more than 30 inches of snow fell in late 2006 -- made for ideal growing conditions.

Essentially, the tables were turned last year.

In the northwest crop-reporting district, for example, average yields last year amounted to 43 bushels per acre. This year, the forecast is calling for average yields of 38 bushels.

That's would still be considered an excellent crop, but it's only 83 percent of last year's bin-buster.

The central crop-reporting district, which includes Ellis County, is expected to harvest 41 bushels per acre, double the 21 harvested last year. Much of that district, however, was decimated by the freeze.

The state's overall production will benefit from an extra 800,000 acres that are expected to be harvested this year compared to a year ago.

Overall, yields are expected to increase from 33 bushels per acre last year to 38 this year.

White, at the KASS office in Topeka, can attest to the condition of the crops.

On the tour this week, he followed a trail that went from Great Bend to La Crosse to Hays and then on to Oakley and Colby.

Along the way, he spent much of the time in wet and muddy fields.

In the Colby area, there was at least one field that was showing signs of drought stress, he said.

Through the end of April, Colby had only received 2.65 inches of precipitation. That compares to the 4.11 inches that Hays received in the same period.

Colby, however, has only received 0.28 of an inch since the first of the month, while Hays has received 2.15 inches -- 0.72 of an inch of that overnight.

Some areas of Ellis County have had dramatically more rain, pushing the Smoky Hill River to near flood stage on Wednesday.

Despite the relatively dry conditions in the Colby area and west of there, White was optimistic about the crop.

"For the most part, it was in pretty good shape considering how dry it's been," he said. "I don't know if I'd say anybody is in trouble yet."

The forecast, he said, is based on conditions as of the first of the month.

And with the cool spring Kansas has had this year, the crop is behind schedule by perhaps as much as two weeks.

If conditions turn hot and windy, he acknowledged, the situation could change dramatically.

"It depends on what happens in the next 30 to 60 days," he said.