Some U.S. winter wheat still not planted

Farm and Ranch December 2, 2009 Some farmers, particularly in the soft red winter wheat belt of the U.S., are still trying to get winter wheat planted. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has an update on seeding, emergence and crop condition.

Rippey: “The winter wheat crop, finally planting is almost done in most areas, 96% planted. Five year average is 98%. The two areas we continue to see some planting delays, Missouri only 69% planted. We should be at 95% near the end of November. And in North Carolina where we had the remnants of hurricane Ida several weeks ago and it has been wet since. Only 69% of the winter wheat planted, five year average 86%. In terms of emergence 89% nationally. Five year average 93 percent. Now all that said winter wheat is in pretty good shape nationally, 63% good to excellent only six percent very poor to poor. That is down one point on the good to excellent rating from last week.”

USDA rates Washington winter wheat 80 percent good to fair with 11 percent in excellent condition. The crop is 96 percent emerged, just two points behind average. Oregon’s crop is 100 percent emerged and is rated 92 percent fair to good with eight percent excellent. In Idaho winter wheat is also 100 percent emerged and rated 84 percent good to excellent.

As for the U.S. corn harvest 79 percent of it is now in the bin which compares to the five year average of 97 percent.

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

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