2 Key States Have an 80-Point Difference in Good/Excellent Spring Wheat Ratings

The condition of the nation’s spring wheat is widely varied, according to the latest Crop Progress report from USDA. In one state, 87% of the crop was in good/excellent condition, while in another, just 7% of the crop was rated good/excellent.

Here’s a closer look at spring wheat conditions in the six states that grow it, from best to worst.

Minnesota

The spring wheat in Minnesota was rated the best in the country, by far, by the USDA.

As of July 20, 87% of the state’s crop was rated good/excellent. Only 10% was rated fair, and 3% was rated poor. None was rated very poor.

Nearly all the crop had headed as of the latest report. Heading progress increased 13 percentage points to reach 99% during the week ending July 20. That’s ahead of the five-year average by five percentage points.

South Dakota

Although South Dakota had the second best-rated spring wheat in the nation, its crop was rated notably lower than Minnesota’s.

Seventy percent of South Dakota’s crop was rated good/excellent by the USDA, a quarter was rated fair, and 5% was rated poor/very poor.

As for progress, 100% of the state’s crop had headed as of July 20, no change since the week prior. The five-year average is 96%.

North Dakota

To the north, just 67% of the spring wheat was rated good/excellent. A little more than a quarter of North Dakota’s crop was rated fair, while 6% was rated poor/very poor.

The USDA reported 91% of North Dakota’s spring wheat had headed as of July 20, an increase of 10 points since the week prior. Progress is ahead of the five-year average of 86%.

Idaho

The USDA rated 56% of Idaho’s spring wheat good/excellent, 30% of the crop fair, and 14% poor/very poor.

As of July 20, 99% of the state’s crop had headed, up four points for the week. The five-year average is 94%.

Washington

Conditions take a dive from there. Only 21% of Washington’s spring wheat was rated good/excellent for the week ending July 20. As for the rest of the crop, 41% was in fair condition and 38% was rated poor/very poor.

All of the state’s crop had headed as of July 20, an increase from 97% the week prior. The five-year average is 97%.

Montana

Finally, Montana takes the claim of worst spring wheat crop in the nation. It’s the only state with no excellent spring wheat, and only 7% of its crop was rated good. 

More than half of the crop, 52%, was rated fair, while 41% was rated poor/very poor.

Montana’s spring wheat is also lagging significantly behind average progress. As of July 20, 66% of the crop had headed, but the five-year average is 84%. Last year at this time, 86% of the crop had headed.