First spring wheat ratings
Farm and Ranch May 26, 2010 The U. S. spring wheat crop has nearly all been planted now. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says 91 percent has been seeded. Rippey: “That’s right on par with the normal planting pace, 91% by May 23rd. And emergence also pretty much on par, 70% emerged. Sixty-eight percent is the five year average.” This week the USDA also issued its first condition rating for the spring wheat crop pegging it at 85 percent good to excellent. At this time last year the USDA had not yet issued a condition report so there is no comparison. Ratings for Pacific Northwest spring wheat are 90 percent good to excellent in Idaho; 71 percent good to excellent in Washington and spring wheat in Oregon is 67 percent good to excellent. As for the winter wheat crop Rippey says; Rippey: “ It is now 63% headed for the nation‘s 2009-10 winter wheat crop. And that is just slightly behind the average five year pace of 68%. One of the more popular numbers this week for winter wheat heading is 81% We see that number in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Missouri, showing a good idea of where the heading line is pushing north and west across the Midwest and Plains. And we also have of course the winter wheat condition number. And that remains unchanged from a week ago, 66% of the crop rated good to excellent. Only nine percent very poor to poor this week and that represents a big improvement from last year‘s crop, which was 45% good to excellent, 27% very poor to poor at this time.” Rippey says the main condition concerns remain in the soft red winter wheat belt. Recent frosts may have damaged wheat in some areas of the PNW but if there was damage and how much isn’t known at this time. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
