By Julie Ingwersen

CHICAGO, (Reuters) – Hurricane force winds last week that ravaged the U.S. Plains belt appeared to do varying degrees to a winter wheat crop already suffering from dry conditions. Kansas crop experts said.

The young wheat plants fell to the ground in the worst-hit areas, although the remaining crop may bounce back, particularly if their root crowns are protected below the soil surface. However, moisture is essential for the crop, as near-term forecasts are dry.

Some acres are now gone, no doubt. However, there are probably more acres that have suffered severe damage, and weather conditions from now on will be a factor,” Lucas Haag of Kansas State University Extension Agronomist said Friday.

Kansas is America’s biggest producer of hard red wheat. The wheat used to make bread is made into flour in Kansas. Global food prices are at an all-time high of 10 years. Traders closely monitor crop prospects in America, one of the top global wheat suppliers.

According to meteorologists, Wednesday’s “Dust Bowl”, or storm, brought gusts up to 100 mph (166 kph), to some Plains areas. It was reminiscent of U.S. droughts in the 1930s.

Some wheat was whittled and devoid of its leaves this week, suggesting that static electricity caused by blowing dust had damaged it. This phenomenon is more frequent in Dust Bowl years, Haag stated.

In about 10 days, farmers should be able to get a better understanding of their recovery chances. However, the most important needs of crops are moisture and perhaps fertilizer.

Justin Gilpin of the Kansas Wheat Commission wrote, in a market note, “With the current circumstances and forecasts, along with high fertilizer price and availability concerns this Spring, all components (of the required wheat’rebound’ cocktails (are) in doubt,”