In some regions of Kansas the winter wheat crops looks great. After four to six weeks covered with a heavy, protective blanket of snow, it's emerging with a dark green color.

While the wheat is still small in north-central and western Kansas, potential -- like the crop -- is growing. However, in far southwest Kansas things don't look so good.

Bill Luebbers farms in Wichita County and says the wheat looks terrible.

"The color is brown," Luebbers says describing his winter wheat crop. "Our crop is frozen back."

When the cold, sub-zero temperatures marched into the state this January, the crop was bare.

Having received less than four inches of snow all winter, the crop was exposed to the elements and there will probably be some winter kill.

Luebbers says the ground is splitting apart and pulling some of the roots apart with it.

"We'll have an uphill battle with our wheat crop in this part of western Kansas," the Wichita County producer says. "When the ground pulls apart like this it destroys the roots as they spread across the ground. As that happens the wheat has nothing to do but die."

Other wheat may not be brown, but it's a sickly looking light green. It has little growth and will be susceptible to wind damage.

Luebbers is quick to point out that late February and March are notorious for strong winds that sweep across the High Plains at 30, 40, 50 and even 60 mph.

"You know out here in our part of the world the winds usually blow sideways," Luebbers says. "We need moisture and we need it bad."

During this time of the year in southwest Kansas, wheat farmers would like to see a nice foot of wet snow -- the kind that lies level on the ground and the moisture soaks deep into the soil.

Luebbers says he and his neighbors will take any kind of moisture they can get in February and March. Still, one thing this crop has in its favor is the growing season is still early.

Wheat can hold on for a long time. Growers often remark winter wheat has nine lives. This crop in far southwest Kansas is going to need all of them to survive this year.

Luebbers has his fingers crossed. He remains optimistic this region of the state may still receive the snow he's dreaming of.

And should the additional moisture arrive soon, with it will come the promise of an abundant crop in June.

John Schlageck, born and raised in northwest Kansas, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.