Winter Wheat Crop Ratings Drop

* denotes percentage of total national HRW/SRW crop production.

Following are details from USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) crop and weather reports for key HRW wheat states:

Kansas: For the week ending April 30, 2017, temperatures averaged several degrees below normal across most of Kansas, according to the USDA’ s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Precipitation continued to fall across the entire state, with several western counties receiving measureable snowfall. Cold temperatures, at or below freezing in many counties, raised concerns of possible damage to the wheat crop.

There were 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 0% very short, 4% short, 70% adequate and 26% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 1% very short, 10% short, 75% adequate and 14% surplus.

Winter wheat condition rated 4% very poor, 12% poor, 35% fair, 43% good and 6% excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 90%, behind 96% last year, but ahead of the five-year average of 81%. Headed was 44%, near 45% last year, but ahead of 33% average.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma experienced a wide array of weather conditions last week including severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and a strong winter storm. In central Oklahoma, a flood watch was issued for the Oklahoma City area from Friday to Saturday. A strong spring blizzard slammed into the western Panhandle early Saturday.

According to the OCS Mesonet, only 17% of Oklahoma was rated between moderate- to-exceptional drought. East central Oklahoma received up to 9 inches of rainfall. Statewide temperatures averaged in the high 50s. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly adequate to short. There were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork.

Winter wheat jointing reached 96% down 1 point from the previous year. Winter wheat headed reached 76%, 8 points from normal.

Texas: Not yet available.

Following are details from USDA’s NASS crop and weather reports for key SRW wheat states:

Ohio: The week started out ideal for planting before spotty rains delayed field activity. There were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Ohio during the week ending April 30, according to Cheryl Turner, Ohio State statistician with USDA’s NASS.

Corn and soybean planting made solid progress in Western Ohio before rain set in. Locally heavy amounts fell in Southwest Ohio, drowning out some recently planted fields. Colder temperatures also returned.

Michigan: There were 3.1 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending April 30, 2017, according to Marlo Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of NASS. The past week began warm and dry which al lowed producers in most areas to resume fieldwork activities before weekend rains again halted progress.

Fertilized winter wheat showed a definite response and continued in mostly good condition.

Missouri: Significant rain fell over the past week. Temperatures averaged 56.1 degrees, 2.8 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 6.07 inches statewide, 5.04 inches above normal. There were 2.1 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending April 30. Topsoil moisture supply was rat ed 38% adequate and 62% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 1% very short, 2% short, 56% adequate, and 41% surplus.

Winter wheat headed reached 76%. Winter wheat condition was rated 5% poor, 30% fair, 58% good, and 7% excellent.