Winter wheat progress and condition

Farm and Ranch October 28, 2009 Rains of recent days provided needed moisture for winter wheat in the Pacific Northwest and aided in germination and emergence of the crop in some areas.

According to the USDA, Oregon farmers still had 13 percent of their winter wheat to plant at the start of this week, Idaho growers had six percent to seed and in Washington just two percent was left to plant.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey those wet condition in the Midwest slowed winter wheat seeding nationally.

Rippey: “The planting progress is a bit behind though we did past the three-quarters mark now, 76% of the winter wheat crop is planted. Eighty-five percent is the five year average.”

The biggest delays are in soft red winter wheat producing states.

Rippey: “Illinois, Indiana and Missouri running between 36 and 49 points behind their normal planting pace. In particular Illinois just 33% planted; 82% is the five year average.”

Emergence of the winter wheat crop in the PNW remains above the five year average for now but that’s not true for the U.S. overall given cool, wet conditions in the Midwest.

Rippey: “Fifty-nine percent of the nation‘s crop emerged. Sixty-six percent is the five year average. Despite that though, the crop that has emerged is looking reasonably good. We see the first winter wheat condition of the year at 62% good to excellent, only 5% very poor to poor.”

That’s just three points behind last year at this time. Most of Idaho’s winter wheat is rated good to excellent, Washington and Oregon’s is mostly fair to good.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

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