09/24/08 Winter wheat planting progress

Farm and Ranch September 24, 2008 The USDA reported this week that 22 percent of the U.S. winter wheat crop had been planted to start this week. That's just two points behind last year's pace at this time but eight points behind the five year average. In the northwest nearly one-third of Idaho's winter wheat has been planted which is five points above average for now. Oregon has planted 17 percent of its crop, a couple of points ahead of the average pace. Seeding in Washington is lagging with 44 percent of the winter wheat planted versus the five year average of 53 percent. Late last week Washington Wheat Commission chairman Hal Johnson summed up seeding conditions in his state this way. Johnson: "Fair to poor would be how I would characterize them. There may be some spots where they are fairly good but in the fallow areas it just appears there is not a lot of moisture and stands will be spotty." Since those comments some areas got rain but many did not. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says most of the hard red winter wheat states in the Plains are running about 11 points behind the average seeding pace. Rippey: "Kansas also running behind due to wetness. Twelve percent planted. The five year average is 20 percent." Only 33 percent of the U.S. corn crop is mature compared to the five year average of 63 percent. Five percent of the corn has been harvested. Usually 14 percent has been cut by now. The U.S. spring wheat harvest was reported at 97 percent complete at the beginning of this week. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.