05/09/07 Winter wheat development lagging

Farm and Ranch May 9, 2007 Development of the winter wheat crop in much of the northwest and across the U.S. is running behind the five year average pace for now. Brad Rippey, USDA meteorologist, says heading of the crop is lagging. Rippey: "For the national number, winter wheat headed 35%. Five year average is 43%." Usually about seven percent of Washington's winter wheat would be headed out by now but it's only at two percent. County reports suggest some of the headed wheat in Benton County Washington may have been hurt by recent freezing night time temperatures. Oregon's winter wheat is two percent headed. Normally five percent would be. Despite recent adverse weather conditions in the Plains and Midwest, Rippey says the condition of the winter wheat crop continues to rebound slowly. Rippey: "Fifty-seven percent of the crop rated good to excellent nationally. Eighteen percent very poor to poor. Last week those numbers were 56 and 19% respectively. We still have a better crop than last year at this time. The drought affected crop last year was only 35% good to excellent and 38% very poor to poor." Washington's winter wheat ratings remained at 71 percent good excellent. Oregon's improved slightly to 89 percent good to excellent and so did Idaho's winter wheat which is now rated 92 percent good to excellent. In Oregon stripe rust is reported to be reaching threshold levels in hard red winter wheat in Morrow county. The disease has now also been reported in Walla Walla county in Washington as well as southern Adams near Washtucna. Farmers have planted more than 68 percent of the U.S. spring wheat crop. That's ahead of average. Spring wheat planting is nearing completion in the Pacific Northwest. Potato planting in Washington has been lagging at 74 percent complete. Potato planting in Idaho is ahead of average at 52 percent complete. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.