Winter wheat condition update
Farm and Ranch March 17, 2011 There are still concerns about the U.S. winter wheat crop in the central and southern plains but USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says: Rippey: “For every acre of wheat we see in really rough shape across the central and southern high plains we‘ve got some equally good wheat, especially as you head to the north especially across the northern plains and into the interior northwest.” Rippey says take Washington for example. Rippey: “And Washington state coming in with the dryland winter wheat condition, 76% of that crop is rated in good to excellent condition on March 13th. Only five percent very poor to poor. So you have almost a flip of wheat we are seeing across the south central U.S. with very good wheat as we start to break dormancy in the northwest.” Rippey says wheat in the southern plains is already jointing. Rippey: “The crop beginning to develop across the south. Already ¼ of the winter wheat crop is jointing in Oklahoma and that compares to last year‘s number of 15% for March 13th and a five year average of 16%. So we are seeing that crop developing a bit ahead of schedule and may be another symptom of the drought stress we are seeing. It has also been warm in the south central United States. And even in Kansas 2% of the winter wheat jointing by March 13th.” Rippey says the winter wheat in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas remains in desperate need of moisture with the very poor to poor ratings at 56 percent in Texas, 40 percent in Kansas and 39 percent in Oklahoma. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.
