Winter wheat condition improves

Farm and Ranch November 4, 2009 Wheat growers across the U.S. still had about 20 percent of their winter wheat left to plant at the start of this week. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has details on that and the winter wheat crop condition ratings.

Rippey: “Seventy-nine percent planted. That is a bit behind the five year average of 90%. In the Plains states though and the Northwest, we see planting nearing completion in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Washington state. It is really in the wet areas of the Midwest, the soft red wheat crop where we have problem with the planting. For example in Illinois, the same area we have trouble with the harvest we have trouble with planting. Only 35% of the Illinois winter wheat crop is planted and the five year average is 92%. The wheat crop in most areas is looking pretty good. Sixty-four percent good to excellent. That is up two points from a week ago, 62%. Not quite as good as last year, 67%. And the condition problems are really only related to the wetness. So for example in the Delta states, Arkansas wheat 39% rated very poor to poor on what has been planted at this point.”

According to the USDA Oregon still had ten percent of its winter wheat to plant.

Crop emergence in the northwest is either right on the five year average for now or just a few points behind. Winter wheat condition in the PNW remains mostly good to excellent in Idaho and mostly fair to good in Washington and Oregon.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

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