The U.S. winter wheat harvest advanced rapidly over the past week, while the condition of both the winter and spring wheat crops slipped slightly, according to Monday’s USDA crop progress report.
The winter wheat harvest reached 40% complete as of Sunday, up sharply from 25% the previous week. Progress was well ahead of 18% a year earlier and the five-year average of 24%.
In Kansas, the largest winter wheat-producing state, the harvest more than doubled to 58% complete from 28% a week earlier. That was also well ahead of 18% last year and the 26% average.
Oklahoma was 95% harvested, compared with 73% the previous week and 61% on average. Texas advanced more modestly to 77% from 75%, while Illinois jumped to 41% from 20%.
No winter wheat harvest progress was reported in either Michigan or Ohio as of Monday. Michigan was 1% harvested at the same point last year, compared with 0% on average, while Ohio was 2% complete last year versus a five-year average of 3%.
National winter wheat conditions slipped 1 point, with 26% of the crop rated good to excellent. Ratings remained far below the 49% reported a year earlier.
Kansas held at just 14% good to excellent, while Oklahoma and Texas were unchanged at 9% and 12%, respectively. Michigan improved 2 points to 60%, while Ohio declined 2 points to 62%.
The U.S. spring wheat crop was rated 54% good to excellent, down 1 point from the previous week but equal to last year.
North Dakota declined 3 points to 58% good to excellent, while Minnesota fell 5 points to 85%. South Dakota held steady at 50%. Montana continued to recover from exceptionally poor early ratings, improving 9 points to 28% good to excellent, although 61% of the crop remained rated fair.
Spring wheat development accelerated, with 16% of the crop headed, up from 6% a week earlier. Progress was slightly ahead of 15% last year and matched the five-year average.
