01/17/08 USDA says winter wheat condition is good

Farm and Ranch January 17, 2008 The U.S. winter wheat crop is apparently fairing okay so far this winter. Rippey: "If you look at the overall picture for winter wheat conditions are pretty good. We don't have a whole lot of drought concerns." That's USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. He says the lack of a protective snow cover in the northern plains is a little worrisome but the bigger area of concern is the central and southern High Plains. Rippey: "They are no longer dry but because they were dry as winter wheat entered dormancy this fall the crop is poorly established and there could be problems because of the shallow rooting as we get into the spring, unless we see timely rains. So from a winter wheat standpoint, kind of watching the central and southern high plains where the crop is poorly established and the general lack of snow cover across the northern areas." Washington is the largest winter wheat producing state in the PNW and its Agricultural Statistics Service reported this week that its winter wheat was in mostly good condition but somewhat smaller due to drought conditions last fall. As he looks ahead to spring planting and soil moisture conditions, Rippey says as of now things are better than he would have expected given a La Nina year, which usually means a dry southern U.S. But lately; Rippey: "We seen some storms bringing some storms bringing drought relief in the southeast. We have even seen some moisture across the southern high plains where it is typically very dry. And we have seen good snow pack building up in the southwest. So all in all we are looking at a positive moisture situation." And USDA notes western water supply prospects continued to improve due to significant snowfall in December and early January. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwes