The condition of the U.S. winter wheat crop ticked slightly lower this past week, as an already poor national rating got worse.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the nationwide winter wheat crop at 34% good to excellent as of Sunday, down a single point from the previous week and now 12 points below a year earlier. Nearly one-third of the crop (32%) was rated in poor to very poor condition as of Sunday, up 1 point on the week.
Condition ratings in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, where dry and warm conditions have plagued crops, showed further deterioration. At 32% good to excellent, the crop in the No. 1 production state of Kansas was down a hefty 6 points from a week earlier, while the Oklahoma crop slipped 2 points to just 10% good to excellent. The Texas crop was rated 15% good to excellent, down 2 points from the previous week.
On the other hand, the condition of the Soft Red crop in Michigan gained 7 points from a week earlier to 65% good to excellent, and the Ohio crop improved 2 points to 65%.
Across the country, 11% of the winter wheat crop had reached the heading stage as of Sunday, up 4 points from a week earlier and ahead of 8% last year and 7% on average.
Meanwhile, U.S. spring wheat planting advanced close to the average pace this past week. The national spring wheat crop was 6% planted as of Sunday, up 4 points from the previous week. That is on par with last year and just a single point behind the five-year average.
Planting in the largest production state of North Dakota was 1% done as of Sunday, behind 3% for last year and the average. The Minnesota crop was also 1% planted, versus 1% last year and 2% on average. At 7% complete, Montana planting was 4 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of average, while the South Dakota crop was 15% in the ground, compared to 4% a week earlier, 24% last year and 19% on average.
