Wheat Crop Progress Update

It is relative good news for the Pacific Northwest when it comes to progress of both the winter and spring wheat crops.

USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey gives the national overview for winter wheat

Rippey: “Taking a look at winter wheat, the delayed crop is finally heading out in all but two states -- Idaho and Montana -- still no heading progress. Overall 60 percent of the U.S. winter wheat crop is headed, five-year average 72 percent, last year 85 percent.”

In the Pacific Northwest, although Idaho reports no winter wheat heading as of yet, both Washington and Oregon are ahead of their five year average for this time of year. Washington reports 46 percent of crop headed and Oregon has 16 percent headed. Ad far as the condition of the crop -- the Pacific Northwest is doing reasonably well with Idaho reporting 81 percent of winter wheat crop in good to excellent condition. Oregon has 40 percent fair, 43 percent good to excellent and Washington reports 28 percent fair, with 58 percent good to excellent.

Rippey shares the statistics on overall the spring wheat crop.

Rippey: “To the north, spring wheat planting has been very much delayed -- first by the cold spring and more recently by wet weather. 79 percent of the spring wheat planted, 5-year average 86 percent. Last year the entire crop had been planted by this time. Spring wheat emergence only 42 percent by May 26th, 24 points behind the 5-year average and significantly behind last year’s 94 percent.”

Oregon reports spring wheat emergence at 86 percent, Washington at 98 percent and Idaho reports 87 percent emerged.