09/27/06 Winter wheat seeding and crop progress

Farm and Ranch September 27, 2006 The weekly crop progress report from USDA shows that 36 percent of the U.S. winter wheat crop had been planted by the start of this week. The five-year average for this time is 39 percent. In the Northwest winter wheat seeding in Idaho was a little behind average and was 29 percent complete. Oregon and Washington are running ahead of the usual pace of seeding. Washington has 68 percent of the crop in the ground compared to the five year average of 60 percent. Planting in Oregon is reported at way ahead of average with 39 percent of the winter wheat seeded compared to an average of 10 percent for this time. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey talks about the emergence of the winter wheat crop. Rippey: "We are also seeing some delays in the winter wheat emergence. Ten percent nationally. Fourteen percent is the five year average. On an individual statewide basis Nebraska 18% emerged is the furthest behind the five year average of 32%. The other problem we are seeing is in the Northwest continuing dryness. You never like to see planting ahead of normal and emergence behind normal suggesting a dryness related problem. That is what we are seeing in Washington state. Planting is eight points ahead of average but emergence at 20 percent is 14 points behind the five year average of 34 percent." In Oregon 13 percent of the winter wheat has emerged, well ahead of average. In Idaho five percent of the crop is up, just a point behind the average pace. In Washington 65 percent of the potatoes have been harvested. In Idaho 18 percent. Thirteen percent of the U.S. corn crop has now been harvested, just slightly behind the five year average. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.