Spring storms are wreaking havoc on farmers' fields in Sedgwick county. Wheat fields received the majority of damage during a recent hail storm.

For farmers, the damage has hurt their crops, and their pocketbooks.

Mick Rausch is no stranger to Spring storms, especially those that strike right in the middle of wheat harvest.

"I can remember doing wheat harvest when I was 8, 9, 10 years old," said Rausch.

Since a young age, Rausch has always hoped for a good crop.

"Farmers are eternal optimists," said Rausch.

Until the June 9th hail storm hit, Rausch had been fairly lucky.

"You've got a whole years worth of income potential out there. The thought of losing a whole year's work in a 5 minute storm, it can lead to some sleepless nights," said Rausch.

This storm, however, lasted for just under an hour.

Baseball, even softball-sized hail, left five of Rausch's un-harvested wheat fields mostly damaged.

"Wheat at this particular time is standing up nice and straight. The heads are bent over a little bit normally and ready to harvest. After the hail went through, you can see 9 out of 10 of the stems are broken over," said Gary Cramer, Sedgwick County Extension Agent.

Cramer says most of the damage spread from Mount Hope to Sedgwick, and as far south as Garden Plain and Mulvane.

At least a third of the acres in the county were damaged or destroyed.

"I see maybe 4 kernels of wheat there," Cramer said as he hand-shucked a head of wheat in his hand.

"Normally, a head of wheat has 22 kernels in it. Not only did it break off the stalks, it also knocked the grain right out of the head."

Besides wheat fields, corn and soybean fields, that were recently planted, took a hit as well.

"We've got a lot of washing of the soil that's covered up the seed, and is most likely too deep for the plant to emerge," said Cramer.

"Same thing with corn. It's been stripped of its leaves, and even if the growing point isn't damaged, we're going to take about a 2-10% loss in yield."

Wheat saw the worst of the storm.

Rausch says he hoped to get about 40 bushes an acre for his wheat. If anything, he will now get about 10.

"There's really nothing you can do about it. You just roll with the punches. Thank God I have crop insurance which will help in the long run. It doesn't cover what the crop would make, but I will be able to survive another year," said Rausch.