11/08/06 Rains beneficial for winter wheat

Farm and Ranch November 8, 2006 The weekly crop weather bulletin from USDA says winter wheat planting in Washington and Idaho was complete at the start of this week and in Oregon nearly so at 98 percent planted. The rains have generally been beneficial for the region's winter wheat crop. Nationally 94 percent of the U.S. winter wheat crop has been seeded, which is right on the five-year average pace for now, but Brad Rippey USDA meteorologist, says some areas of the country are lagging behind. Rippey: "California and the deep south of course that is relatively normal but in the eastern cornbelt it is not and wetness continues to hamper late season planting there. Michigan 82% complete on November 5th. They should be at 99%. Ohio just 83% should be at 96%." Ohio grows soft red winter wheat. Michigan soft white. Rippey says the pattern is pretty much the same when it comes to winter wheat emergence. Rippey: "Problems taking place in the Ohio Valley and the eastern cornbelt states. Ohio the worst of all, 47% emerged. The 5-year average is 85%. Similar in Michigan, 55% versus 85%. Nationally emergence is at 82 percent just a point below average. In the Northwest emergence is about normal or way ahead like in Oregon. The condition rating of the U.S. winter wheat crop slipped one point from the previous week and is now 59 percent good to excellent. A year ago at this time the rating was 57 percent good to excellent. The U.S. corn harvest meanwhile is 81 percent complete, just a point below the five year average. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.