10/18/07 Catching up on winter wheat planting

Farm and Ranch October 18, 2007 Drier than normal weather in many parts of the U.S. has allowed farmers to catch up on winter wheat planting. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says for example: Rippey: "Ohio planted 39%, more than one-third of its wheat in the last week to reach 78%. Five year average 59%." At 73 percent complete nationally, seeding is slightly behind the average pace for now of 76 percent. Rippey: "We still see some delays with respect to normal in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas in particular. But the numbers are narrowing with respect to the five year averages." In the Pacific Northwest winter wheat seeding is nearing completion in Washington with 90 percent of the crop in the ground. Some growers just had to go ahead and dust in their wheat. Idaho farmers have planted 85 percent of their winter wheat, a point ahead of the average pace. Seeding in Oregon is over 20 points ahead of the average pace with 78 percent of the crop planted. Washington is the only northwest state where winter wheat emergence is lagging the five year average. Nationally 43 percent of the crop has emerged which compares to the five year average of 51 percent. USDA's Rippey has the latest on the U.S. corn harvest. Rippey: "53% harvested as we passed the halfway mark before October 14th. Five year average is only 41% and although we see a pretty good range almost all areas are at or well ahead of the normal harvest pace." Turning to potatoes, 80 percent of Washington's spuds have been harvested, 83 percent of Idaho's. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.