Spring planting and winter wheat update
Farm and Ranch May 10, 2011 Cool, wet conditions in many parts of the U.S. still has spring planting running behind normal. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has the spring wheat situation. Rippey: “We do see with the spring situation only 22% of the crop planted by May 8th, five year average 61%. Last year 65%.” Even though spring wheat planting is 72 percent complete in Washington and 66 percent done in Idaho, those figures are also well behind the five year average. USDA’s Rippey says farmers are finally making some progress in the northern plains, like in the number one spring wheat producing state of North Dakota. Rippey: “Edging to 7% planted. Last year more than half of the crop planted by May 8th at 52%. And also in Minnesota edging up to 18% planted. Last year the crop was nearly planted, 98%, by May 8th.” Planting of the U.S. corn crop has been hindered by weather too. At the start of this week 40 percent of corn had been sown compared to the five year average for now of 59 percent. Meteorologist Rippey says there wasn’t much change in the winter wheat crop the past week. Rippey: “No real change there. We continue to see the drought affected crop in the south central U.S. Pretty good crop elsewhere, but some wetness related problems starting to show up in the soft red winter wheat areas of the delta and the eastern corn belt.” Pacific Northwest winter wheat continues to be rated 75 percent or better good to excellent. USDA reports 42 percent of the U.S. winter wheat crop is headed, slightly ahead of average. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ? ?
