Spring wheat seeding slow going

Farm and Ranch April 14, 2009 Only two percent of the U.S. spring wheat crop had been planted at the start of this week. The USDA weekly crop progress report says the five year average for now is 11 percent. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says wet conditions are responsible. Rippey: "We still see absolutely no progress, no surprise there, in North Dakota and Minnesota." Seeding is behind in the Pacific Northwest too. For example, Washington farmers have only planted 30 percent of their spring wheat compared to the five year average of 60 percent. In Idaho only 18 percent is planted compared to the five year average of 39 percent. Seeding of barley is also well behind normal. The weekly crop ratings showed improvement for both Washington and Oregon winter wheat. Forty-eight percent of Washington winter wheat is now rated good to excellent with 15 percent poor to very poor. Oregon's crop is 44 percent good to excellent and 14 percent poor to very poor. Idaho's winter wheat remains at 80 percent good to excellent. Elsewhere in the U.S. USDA's Rippey says last weeks frost in the Southern Plains took a toll on Texas and Oklahoma wheat. Rippey: "Texas is such a drought affected crop it is hard to hurt it much more but going from 64 to 67% very poor to poor between April 5th and 12th. We see some of the biggest impacts in Oklahoma. The crop there a week ago 37% very poor to poor, largely due to drought, but now because of the drought and the freeze that number has reached 50%. Half the crop rated very poor to poor in Oklahoma." National winter wheat good to excellent ratings drop a point to 42 percent. That compares to 47 percent a year ago. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.