Development of PNW winter wheat behind average
Farm and Ranch June 14, 2011 Development of the winter wheat crop continues to run behind the five year average in all Pacific Northwest states due to the cool spring. This week’s Crop Weather Bulletin from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service puts Oregon winter wheat at 78 percent headed, the most advanced in the region, which is still 12 points behind average. Washington’s winter wheat is 34 points behind the five year average at only 41 percent headed. Idaho’s crop is 19 percent headed, 16 points behind average for now. Nationally, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says heading is lagging at 85 percent compared to the usual 91 percent. The U.S. winter wheat harvest though is running ahead of the five year average. Rippey: “Winter wheat harvest now 22% complete nationally, five year average 13%, last year 10%. We saw at least one-third of the crop harvested just in the last week in Oklahoma, North Carolina and Arkansas aided by very warm, dry conditions.” USDA reports that 88 percent of the U.S. spring wheat crop had been planted to start this week, 12 points behind average. North Dakota and Montana still had just under 20 percent of their spring wheat to plant, assuming the remainder gets planted at all. The planting of the U.S. corn crop has about wrapped up and most of it has emerged about on schedule. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.
