09/26/07 Winter wheat planting pace

Farm and Ranch September 26, 2007 More than a quarter of the U.S. winter wheat crop had been planted at the start of this week. But USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the 27 percent of the crop seeded is behind the five-year average for this time of 35 percent. Rippey: "And what is driving those delays is wetness really on the southern plains at this point. Texas very slow to plant this year. Just 19% on September 23rd. Five-year average is 42%. Oklahoma also slow. One-quarter planted on the 23rd of September. Five-year average 38%." But Rippey notes that some areas are well above the average winter wheat planting pace. Rippey: "We find that South Dakota and Washington state leading the way with now with 60% of the crop planted in both of those states. Both of those numbers are slightly ahead of the five-year average. And as far as some of the other Plain's states go, we have also passed the half-way mark in planting in Montana and in Nebraska where planting is just about on par with average." Elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest 38 percent of Idaho's winter wheat has been planted and 20 percent of Oregon's. Both of those also ahead of the five-year average. Some northwest growers are waiting for moisture before seeding. Winter wheat emergence in the PNW is at 23 percent in Washington, nine percent in Idaho and 2 percent in Oregon. Nationally emergence is at six percent, which compares to the five-year average of 11 percent. Twenty-two percent of the U.S. corn crop has been harvested, well ahead of the average pace of 14 percent. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.