Market News & Headlines >> Wheat Condition Ratings Spur Worries

Concerns about U.S. wheat production potential have spiked following the release of crop condition updates for several key winter wheat producing states on Monday afternoon. 

In the top winter wheat growing state of Kansas, only 14% of the crop was rated good/excellent as of Jan. 28, down from 37% at the end of December, while the portion of the crop rated poor/very poor rose to 44% from 22% previously.  Topsoil moisture was rated short/very short over 79% of the state, with subsoil moisture short/very short over 70%. 

In Oklahoma, winter wheat conditions were rated just 4% good, 17% fair and 79% poor/very poor as of Sunday, with both topsoil and subsoil moisture rated short/very short over 93% of the state. 

Texas did not issue a winter wheat crop update. Colorado's crop was rated 37% good/excellent, down from 48% at the end of December. In Nebraska, winter wheat conditions were rated 48% good/ex., down from 64% at the end of December. Texas did not issue a crop progress update. 

Looking at soft red winter wheat states, condition ratings also deteriorated during January. Illinois winter wheat conditions were rated 38% good/excellent and 18% poor/very poor as of Sunday, compared with 56% good/excellent and 15% poor/very poor at the end of December. 

In Kentucky, winter wheat conditions were rated 54% good/excellent and only 3% poor/very poor compared with 64% good/excellent and 14% poor/very poor at the end of December. North Carolina winter wheat conditions were rated 73% good/very good and 3% poor as of Sunday.