Market News & Headlines >> Winter Wheat Rating Improves

U.S. winter wheat conditions improved last week as wet areas of the Plains HRW wheat belt benefited from drier conditions, however crop emergence remained below normal amid lower-than-normal temperatures. 

USDA rated U.S. winter wheat conditions 56% good/excellent as of Sunday, up from 54% a week earlier and 53% a year earlier. However, only 81% of the crop was said to be emerged, down from 87% last year and the five-year average of 88%. Planting progress, meanwhile reached 93%, behind the average of 97%. 

The crop rating in the top U.S. winter wheat growing state of Kansas declined to 43% good/excellent, from 44% a week earlier, but the Oklahoma rating improved to 52% good/excellent from 49% and the Texas rating jumped to 56% good/excellent from 44%. 

USDA reported that only 81% of winter wheat was emerged in Kansas and Oklahoma by Sunday, down from the five-year average of 93% for both states. However, warmer weather this week should boost crop emergence and establishment. 

Planting was lagging the most in Delta/Southeast SRW wheat states due to heavy rains there, with only 59% of the Arkansas crop planted versus an average of 71% and 53% of the North Carolina crop planted versus an average of 69%.  Only 59% of the Arkansas crop had emerged as of Sunday, versus the average pace of 78%.