Winter Wheat Crop Progress

Across the country, winter wheat planting progress is pretty much in sync with the national five-year average and last year. However, that is in spite of a unusually wet October in the Pacific Northwest as USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey explains

Rippey: "We're seeing delays anywhere from 3 to 8 percent points behind the respective five-year averages in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Washington notable in that planting is typically complete by this time but this year only 92 percent complete by November 6th."

In Idaho 96 percent of the winter wheat has been planted with 82 percent of the crop having emerged. The crop condition is rated 74 percent good to excellent and 26 percent rated fair.

In Oregon 92 percent of the crop has been planted and 62 percent has emerged. Crop condition is rated 65 percent good to excellent, with 30 percent rated fair and 5 percent rated very poor to poor.

In Washington as Rippey said 92 percent of the winter wheat crop has been planted and 79 percent has emerged. The state's winter wheat condition is rated 93 percent good to excellent, and the remaining 7 percent rated fair.

Colorado's winter wheat crop is 94 percent emerged and for the condition of the crop. — 51 percent rated good to excellent, 36 percent rated fair and 13 percent very poor to poor.

Colorado was one of the seven states listed with at least 10 percent of the crop being rated very poor to poor. Texas lead that list with 15 percent of their crop being rated very poor to poor.