GEOG researchers Dr. Belen Franch and Dr. Sergii Skakun participated in the 2018 Hard Winter Wheat of Kansas (April 30 to May 3, 2018) organized and coordinated by the Wheat Quality Council. The tour included 98 participants, representing government, university, media, grain, milling, bakers, producers, farmers, who drove throughout Kansas to evaluate wheat conditions and assess potential yields at this moment. After inspecting 644 wheat fields, the projected yields are 37 bushels per acre (BPA), down 11 BPA from the previous year. Overall, wheat is behind the schedule two to four weeks due to exceptional dry conditions, and projected yield values might change depending on the further weather conditions. The data collected by B. Franch and S. Skakun will be used for validation of satellite products developed at UMD.