With the harvest underway, the condition of the US winter wheat crop improved this past week. Meanwhile, the condition of the spring wheat crop took a significant step up from the previous week’s disappointing first rating of the season.
The American winter wheat crop was rated 52% good to excellent as of Sunday, according to Monday’s USDA crop progress report. That’s up 2 points on the week and topped trade expectations for just a steady rating. It’s also 3 points better than last year at this time.
Meanwhile, the condition of the spring wheat jumped 5 points from the previous week’s lower-than-expected rating of just 45% good to excellent but remains well down from 74% last year. Going into the report, the trade was looking for a more modest 2-point improvement in the spring wheat crop.
The condition of the winter wheat crop in the primary production state of Kansas was pegged at 51% good to excellent as of Sunday, up 3 points on the week, while the condition of the Oklahoma crop jumped 9 points to 55%. The Soft Red Winter crops in Michigan and Ohio came in at 69% and 68% good to excellent, versus 67% a week earlier.
The nationwide winter wheat harvest was estimated at 3% done as of Sunday, 2 points behind last year but even with the five-year average. No harvesting was reported in Kansas, but the Oklahoma crop was 4% in the bin, far behind 21% last year and 9% on average. The crop in Texas – where the harvest is the most advanced – was 25% off as of Sunday, behind 31% last year but still ahead of 27% on average.
As for the spring wheat crop, the condition of the crop in the No. 1 state of North Dakota improved dramatically, climbing 11 points on the week to 48% good to excellent. The Minnesota crop also improved, up 3 points to 85% good to excellent. On the other hand, the Montana and South Dakota crops each dropped 3 points from the previous week to 33% and 52% good to excellent.
The American spring wheat crop was 95% planted as of Sunday, up from 87% a week earlier and 5 points ahead of average. The crop was reported at 73% emerged, an increase of 13 points from a week earlier and 4 points ahead of average.
