11/06/07 Winter wheat condition slips on dryness

Farm and Ranch November 6, 2007 Dry weather is playing a role in winter wheat crop ratings. Rippey; "And it is interesting with the rapid dry down across the southern half of the high plains and the northwest, we are beginning to see that reflected in the condition." USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey who says 53 percent of the winter wheat crop came in this week as very good to excellent, 13 percent very poor to poor. Those numbers sliding slightly from the previous week. Rippey: "Not quite as good as this time last year, 59% good to excellent, just nine percent very poor to poor." In the Northwest, Idaho's winter wheat is in the best condition at 85 percent good to excellent with no very poor to poor wheat. Washington's crop is rated 44 percent good to excellent, 50 percent fair and six percent poor to very poor. There are reports in Washington's Garfield county that some farmers were filing crop losses due lack of moisture. Oregon's winter wheat is 15 percent good, 47 percent fair and 38 percent poor. Ninety-two percent of the U.S winter wheat crop has been planted, just a point behind the five year pace. Emergence stands at 76 percent nationally, which USDA's Rippey says is five points behind average. Rippey: "Earlier across the southern plains, places like Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, running a bit behind on emergence. Early in the season we saw wetness related delays. Then it suddenly turned dry. Now it has actually kind of flipped around to the other side. Oklahoma now just 68% emerged. Five-year average is 86%." The U.S. corn harvest is ahead of the average pace now at 86 percent complete. Washington's potato harvest was called 95 percent complete at the start of this week. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network..