11/22/06 Winter wheat progress and condition

Farm and Ranch November 22, 2006 Emergence of the 2007 U.S. winter wheat crop is a point above the five year average for this time with 92 percent of the crop up and out of the ground. Emergence in the Pacific Northwest is also above average at 99 percent in Idaho, 98 percent in Washington and 83 percent in Oregon. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says there are some problem areas though like the eastern cornbelt and lower Great Lakes region. Rippey: "Michigan for example, just 71% percent emerged. Five year average is 97%. Not much better in Ohio, 77% emerged. Five year average 97%. And that wetness is beginning to take a toll now on the condition of the winter wheat crop in the eastern cornbelt. For example Michigan the percentage of the crop rated very poor to poor increased sharply from last week to this week, from 11% to 30%." Michigan is a soft white wheat producer. As for the overall U.S. winter wheat crop condition. Rippey: "Take away these few problem areas and the situation is still pretty good nationally. Fifty-seven percent good to excellent. Just nine percent very poor to poor. That is a drop from last week though with some of the problem areas in the wet areas of the eastern cornbelt becoming more of a concern. Last week the numbers were 59% good to excellent, 8% very poor to poor. Still though better than this time last year when we saw the drought affected crop starting to take a tailspin." The U.S. corn and soybean harvests are nearly complete. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.