11/29/06 Winter wheat ratings decline

Farm and Ranch November 29, 2006 USDA's last crop condition report for the fall showed a drop in winter wheat ratings from last week. Brad Rippey USDA meteorologist says 53 percent of the crop was in good to excellent condition, down from 57 percent last week. Rippey: "Oklahoma has been a problem all through. Drought there is causing significant problems. The crop 24% very poor to poor in Oklahoma. That's up from a week ago 21%. The other problem is the wetness in the eastern corn belt. Michigan improving a little bit with the improved weather of the past few days. Going from 30% very poor to poor a week ago to 22% very poor to poor on November 26th. Other areas on the Plains now starting to dry out. Montana in particular seeing a decline in its good to excellent from 62% a week ago to currently 48%. The final area of concern is the Northwest where it has been a bit on the wet side. For example in Washington and Oregon both states showing a seven point decline in the percentage of the crop rated good to excellent from last week to this week." Still, like the crop nationally, the good to excellent ratings for both Washington and Oregon, as well as Idaho, are better this year than they were at this time in 2005 heading into winter. Idaho's winter wheat is rated 97 percent good to excellent, Washington's 62 percent and Oregon's winter wheat 69 percent good to excellent. USDA resumes its weekly crop condition reports next spring. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.