Brad Rippey

When it comes to the condition of the winter wheat crop, there’s very little to report in the Northwest.  However, nationally, we’re seeing numbers come from the southern and central plains.   “It really highlights just how much stress there is on this 2022-2023 winter wheat crop," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.   And when it comes ...

With recent systems moving in from the Pacific, is the west going to break free from drought?     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says there was considerable improvement in the U.S. drought monitor during the month of November.  He noted between November 1st and the end of the month, drought coverage dropped 5.3 percentage points to 57% of the country being categorized as dry our drought.   “...

The overall condition of the nation's winter wheat crop is still near 30-year lows.   “But the good news is a few production areas have received much needed moisture in recent weeks and that has started to turn the condition around a little bit," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  He said the i...

The winter wheat crop continues to be a challenge nationally.   “An interesting start to the season, not necessarily in a good way,” noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  He added it's been that way for several months, where many production areas, including the Northwest, have been very dry.  Rippey said some locatio...

Ask Brad Rippey, and he’ll tell you that it’s abnormally dry for this time of year.  According to the USDA meteorologist, the November 1st U.S. drought monitor, which shows drought coverage across the lower 48 states.   “Is 62.8%, a ten-percentage point incre...

"Presently, we do have drought in all three of the nation's major where we production areas.  The white winter wheat in the Northwest the hard red winter wheat across the Great Plains and the soft red winter wheat it's grown from the mid-South into the lower Midwest.” ...

Thanks to dryness “plaguing” many of the major wheat producing sections of the country, including the Pacific Northwest, concern is starting to grow about the upcoming winter wheat crop.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said growers have planted 69% of the crop, which is 1% ahead of normal.  He noted weather co...

When it comes to the latest winter wheat seeding numbers, the USDA says 40% of the crop is in the ground this week.  Meteorologist Brad Rippey said that figure is about 4%-5% behind the five-year average as well as where growers were this time last year.   “...

When it comes to winter wheat, 21% of the crop is in the ground nationwide, which is ahead of the five-year average of 17% for this time of year, and also ahead of last year’s rate by roughly 1%.  And of that winter wheat crop, roughly 2% has emerged nationwide, which is in line with the five-year average.  But USDA mete...