Winter Wheat Crop Looks Good Locally And Nationally

“The heading progress for winter wheat, nationally, 8% of the U.S. winter wheat crop headed by April 13th.  That's right on par with the five-year average, two points behind last year's 10%," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey recapping the latest numbers from the USDA’s crop progress report.  He noted that most of the heading progress is taking place in southern states, and is currently led by California at 60% headed.

However,

“It is interesting to note that South Dakota comes in this week 3% of the winter wheat headed," Rippey said.  "That's before we see any heading progress in states like Nebraska and even in Kansas that is likely reflective of some of the drought stress on that crop. We had some very warm weather. That crop is being pushed along without moisture and that is likely the reason it is heading out early.”

Rippey added there wasn’t much change in the overall winter wheat crop condition week-over-week; now at 47% good to excellent, 19% very poor to poor.

When it comes to the Northwest crop: 

• In Oregon, 49% is good to excellent while 14% is very poor to poor
• In Idaho, 68% of the winter wheat crop is rated good to excellent, while 2% is poor; no "very poor" numbers were reported.
• In Washington, 69% is considered good to excellent, while 11 % is rated poor to very poor. 

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