12/14/06 Some winter wheat areas still dry

Farm and Ranch December 14, 2006 U.S. winter wheat growers in much of the country have seen some good precipitation. That includes the Pacific Northwest, but USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says there are still some problem areas. Rippey: "We have a concern for a dry pocket from northern and western Oklahoma northward into western South Dakota. All those areas right through the middle of the wheat belt have a variety of moisture deficits. So you have some very serious long and short term dryness across northern and western Oklahoma. We've got subsoil moisture shortages farther north as you head into South Dakota. All those areas need to see some good rain and snow over the next few weeks to prevent deterioration of the wheat condition." And that region of the country has not yet seen any severe cold temperatures that could cause any freeze damage. Rippey: "But it does leave it a little more vulnerable to any potential cold outbreaks that might come down the road as we head into January." The Pacific Northwest has already had one short episode of artic cold , but where the temperatures were the coldest there was a blanket of snow cover for the wheat. Rain and warmer temperatures have melted that away at lower elevations. Farmers are still trying to complete the corn harvest in the eastern cornbelt. Wet conditions have delayed progress there. Rippey: "So a few acres left, particularly Ohio, one of the slowest harvest states this fall." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.