According to first-of-the-month state crop reports, the hard red winter wheat crop in Kansas benefited from moisture in December, with crop ratings improve from the previous month. Crop improvement was also noted in Oklahoma, but little change in condition ratings was noted in Texas from the previous month.
| Crop condition | Very Poor | Poor | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| Kansas - 01/01/12 | 2 | 7 | 38 | 46 | 7 |
| 11/27/11 | 4 | 9 | 40 | 42 | 5 |
| Okla. - 01/03/12 | 1 | 6 | 30 | 54 | 9 |
| 11/28/11 | 2 | 8 | 34 | 49 | 7 |
| Texas - 01/03/12 | 15 | 23 | 37 | 22 | 3 |
| 11/28/11 | 16 | 24 | 35 | 21 | 4 |
Here are some of the key observations in the state monthly summaries:
Kansas: Most areas of Kansas received much needed moisture during the month of December with thirty-four of the 52 stations reporting over 2 inches of precipitation. The lightest amounts were in the northwest where Oberlin was the only station with below normal precipitation for the month. Snow fell during the first and third weeks of December in the western half of Kansas with amounts over a foot at some locations in the West Central District and limiting Kansas farmers to an average of only 9 days suitable fieldwork for the month. The temperatures varied widely during the month with lows ranging from 17 degrees at three locations in the southeast to -15 degrees at Oberlin in the northwest. Warm temperatures during the last few days of the year set new record highs at several locations in the eastern half of the State. Topsoil moisture supplies improved during the month to 7 percent very short, 17 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. The Southwest District is still very dry with 64 percent reported in the short to very short for topsoil moisture. Fieldwork was limited by wet fields, but primarily involved harvesting cotton when possible and applying fertilizer in preparation for spring crops. Oklahoma: Most areas of Kansas received much needed moisture during the month of December with thirty-four of the 52 stations reporting over 2 inches of precipitation. The lightest amounts were in the northwest where Oberlin was the only station with below normal precipitation for the month. Snow fell during the first and third weeks of December in the western half of Kansas with amounts over a foot at some locations in the West Central District and limiting Kansas farmers to an average of only 9 days suitable fieldwork for the month. The temperatures varied widely during the month with lows ranging from 17 degrees at three locations in the southeast to -15 degrees at Oberlin in the northwest. Warm temperatures during the last few days of the year set new record highs at several locations in the eastern half of the State. Topsoil moisture supplies improved during the month to 7 percent very short, 17 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. The Southwest District is still very dry with 64 percent reported in the short to very short for topsoil moisture. Fieldwork was limited by wet fields, but primarily involved harvesting cotton when possible and applying fertilizer in preparation for spring crops Texas: In northern areas of the state, dry land winter wheat progressed well due to recent moisture in areas of the Northern High Plains. Winter wheat in areas of the Cross Timbers progressed well due to warmer temperatures. Emerging winter wheat and oats slowed due to a recent cold front in areas of the Blacklands. Winter wheat and oats progressed well in areas of the South Texas due to timely rain showers and replenished soil moisture.
