05/14/08 Wheat already stressed and heat is on the way

Farm and Ranch May 14, 2008 We need moisture! That is what many wheat growers in eastern Oregon and eastern Washington are saying. In Washington's Lincoln county a crop observer reports in the Weekly Crop Weather Bulletin that winter wheat there is in the worst condition in 30 years due to dry conditions, the late growing season and numerous nights of freezing temperatures. Cool weather is about to abruptly end with temperatures in the region forecast to be in the 80's and 90's by this weekend and with no rain in sight both winter wheat and spring grains are expected to deteriorate rapidly in Washington and Oregon. Meanwhile, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says winter wheat development across the U.S. has been lagging. Rippey: "Heading is very slow across the Plains, also in the Midwest and also in the Northwest. All the major growing areas seeing very slow progress for the season to date. For the week ending May 11th only 36% of the crop heading. That is well behind the five year average of 53%." Rippey says 81 percent of the U.S. spring wheat crop has now been planted. That is slightly ahead of the five year average but what has been cool weather up to now, has also slowed its development. Rippey: "Spring wheat only one-quarter emerged on May 11th." 02 Compared to 43 percent on average for now. Fifty-one percent of the U.S. corn crop had been planted at the start of this week but that was well behind the five-year average of 77 percent. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.