NW Winter Wheat Crop Numbers Well Ahead Of National Averages

Winter wheat growers across the nation continue to face challenges when it comes to getting the 2027 crop into the ground.

"We had some delays related to the dryness, now some delays in planting related to wetness, and that has left us with 36% of the U.S. winter wheat acreage planted by October 4th," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. "That has fallen pretty far behind the five-year average of 46%. We do see planting progress now in all 18 of the major production states, but several are considerably behind schedule."

Planting Is Impacting Emergence

Rippey noted most of those delays have been reported in the Midwest and the Plains.

Here in the Northwest, Idaho is right in line with its five-year average of 59%, Oregon reported 47% of its winter wheat crop planted as of Sunday October 4th, well ahead of the five-year average of 33%, and Washington growers reported 83% of the crop planted, which is ahead of the five-year average of 74%.

Rippey said naturally, the emergence numbers are behind schedule because of those planting delays.

"But it has been warm enough that where the crop has been planted, it is emerging quite well," Rippey said. "16% of the winter wheat acreage emerged on October 4th, that's still behind the five-year average of 20%."

As of Sunday, Oregon's emergence was 21%, Idaho growers reported 20%, and Washington lead the nation with 55% emergence as of October 4th.