Winter wheat emergence progresses

Farm and Ranch November 10, 2009 Winter wheat emergence in the Pacific Northwest continues to progress with the moisture the region has been getting. USDA says 90 percent of Washington’s winter wheat is up, which is two points above the five year average for now. In Idaho 81 percent of the crop has emerged, three points behind average and in Oregon 67 percent of the winter wheat is up, which is just two points behind average.

Elsewhere in the U.S. farmers are still seeding winter wheat. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says progress has been made over the last week.

Rippey: “Winter wheat planting has now reached 86% complete, behind the last year and the five year average of 92% and 93% respectively. The biggest planting issues have been in the soft red wheat belt, the west areas from the Delta in to the eastern cornbelt. But just in the last week we saw 28% of the winter wheat planted in Illinois to reach 63%. The five year average planting pace in Illinois 96%. Winter wheat emergence up to 71%, still behind the five year average of 82%. And the winter wheat condition not looking to bad except in the wettest areas. 63% good to excellent. That is very similar to last week 64%. Just a bit below last year at this time, 68%.”

Most of Idaho’s winter wheat remains in good to excellent condition with the bulk of winter wheat in Washington and Oregon rated fair to good.

The U.S. corn harvest moved up to 37 percent complete at the start of this week. The five year average is 82 percent.

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