Agriculture in Kansas
ZIP codes in our Kansas data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture is one of the foundations of the Kansas economy, and the state has long been known as a national leader in wheat production. From the vast grain and cattle operations of the central and western plains to home gardens and diversified farms in the wetter east, farming shapes the land, the culture, and the livelihood of communities across Kansas. For growers and gardeners, understanding the state's wide range of soils, rainfall, and temperatures is the first step to success.
Farming in Kansas
Kansas is one of the country's top wheat-producing states, and hard red winter wheat is closely tied to the state's identity as part of the nation's breadbasket. Beyond wheat, growers raise large acreages of grain sorghum (milo), corn, soybeans, and hay, with sorghum production ranking among the highest of any state. Beef cattle are the single most valuable part of Kansas agriculture, supported by extensive grazing land in the Flint Hills and large cattle feeding and processing operations. The state's farming character shifts from irrigated and dryland grain and cattle country in the drier west to more rain-fed cropping and diversified farms in the east.
Climate and growing conditions
Kansas has a continental climate marked by cold winters, hot summers, and strong swings in temperature and wind. Rainfall increases from west to east, ranging from semi-arid conditions of roughly 16 inches per year in the far west to around 40 inches or more in the southeast, and the frost-free growing season generally runs from about 160 to 200 days depending on location. Gardeners across the state fall mostly within USDA hardiness zones 5b in the northwest through 7a in the south and southeast.
Major agricultural products
- Winter wheat
- Grain sorghum (milo)
- Corn
- Soybeans
- Beef cattle
- Hay and alfalfa
- Hogs
Hardiness zones in Kansas
Growers in Kansas fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in Kansas
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Kansas
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (108 counties):
Market prices & data for Kansas
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.