NW Winter Wheat Plantings Remain Ahead Of National Trends

After delays over the past couple of weeks, winter wheat growers nationwide enjoying dryer, more stable weather, which has allowed more planting to take place.

“Farmers finally getting back out and doing a good bit of planting with 15% of the intended acreage planted just in the last week to reach 51% overall, still behind the five-year average of 58%,” said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.

Rippey noted the numbers are fairly mixed in the southern Plains, where despite recent rains, the drought is still deeply entrenched.

Here in the Northwest, Idaho growers reported 73% of their intended winter wheat acres in the ground, which is slightly behind the five-year average of 78%.  Meanwhile, 64% of Oregon’s crop was planted as of Sunday, which is ahead of the five-year average of 50, and Washington is the nation’s leader, with 92% of the winter wheat crop in the ground, ahead of the five-year average of 84%.

Photo: Glenn Vaagen

When it comes to the emergence of the national crop.

“27% emerged on October 11th. 32% is the five-year average for typical winter wheat emergence,” Rippey said.

Locally, 70% of Washington’s winter wheat crop has emerged, while that figure is 36% in Oregon and 37% in Idaho.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com