Winter wheat planting nearing completion

Farm and Ranch November 1, 2011 The pace of winter wheat planting in the Pacific Northwest states is either equal to or slightly better than the five year average for now. Idaho is the closest to completion at 99 percent planted. Washington is at 98 percent and Oregon at 91 percent planted.

As for winter wheat planting nationally, despite lingering drought in the southern plains, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says;

Rippey: “Slightly ahead of average overall, 89% of winter wheat planted by October 30. Five year average 88%. Last year 92 percent.”

Recent rain has allowed planting to progress in some of the dry southern plains like Texas.

Rippey: “74% of the Texas crop now planted. That is catching up but still behind the five year pace of 82%. Up to 90% planted in Oklahoma and that is actually ahead of the five year average after getting a slow start there.”

Better than 80 percent of the winter wheat has emerged in Idaho and Washington. Emergence in Oregon is at 40 percent, 15 points behind the five year average. Nationally Rippey says;

Rippey: “68% emerged nationally. 72% the five year average. 73% last year. Many of the same areas like the southern plains and the eastern corn belt where planting has been slow, emergence has also been slow.”

This week’s rating of the winter wheat crop is 46 percent good to excellent, the same as last year at this time.

Seventy-eight percent of the U.S. corn crop has been harvested.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.

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