How is the U.S. Winter Wheat Harvest Going?

The country’s winter wheat harvest is well underway, according to the most recent USDA Crop Progress report. As of June 15, nine of the top 18 winter wheat-growing states had begun to harvest the crop. 

Overall, 10% of the nation’s crop has been harvested, behind the average of 16%. All but two states were behind their respective five-year averages — anywhere from 1 percentage point to 16 percentage points behind. Here’s a closer look at winter wheat progress and conditions across the country.

Arkansas

Although half the nation’s top winter wheat-growing states haven’t even begun harvest, Arkansas farmers have harvested almost half their crop already. By June 15, 48% of the Arkansas winter wheat crop had been harvested, according to USDA, which is two percentage points behind the five-year average. Last year at this time, 63% of the crop had been harvested.

Only 39% of the winter wheat in Arkansas was rated good/excellent by USDA. Almost half the crop was rated fair, and 13% was rated poor/very poor. 

California

California farmers had harvested 30% of the winter wheat crop as of June 15, ahead of the five-year average of 25%. The Golden State is one of only two states ahead of their respective average.

Notably, none of the winter wheat in California was rated poor or very poor. Five percent of the crop was rated fair, 25% was rated good, and 70% was rated excellent. 

Illinois

One percent of the winter wheat crop in Illinois had been harvested by June 15. That’s 14 percentage points behind the five-year average, and 45 percentage points behind harvest progress at this time a year ago.

Winter wheat in Illinois was rated 57% good/excellent, 30% fair, and 13% poor/very poor

Kansas

In Kansas, winter wheat harvest had reached 3% by June 15, behind the five-year average of 11%. Last year at this time, winter wheat harvest in Kansas was already a quarter wrapped up.

Less than half of Kansas’ winter wheat crop was rated good/excellent by USDA. According to the report, 30% of the crop was rated fair, and 21% was rated poor/very poor.

Michigan

One percent of Michigan’s winter wheat had been harvested by June 15, which is unusually early progress for the state. The percentage reported a year ago was 0%, and the five-year average is also 0%, making it the second of the two states ahead of average.

Michigan’s winter wheat crop was rated by USDA as follows: 71% good/excellent, 27% fair, and 2% poor. None was rated very poor. 

Missouri

Missouri farmers had harvested 13% of their winter wheat crop by June 15, USDA said. That’s 21 percentage points behind progress a year ago and 9 percentage points shy of the five-year average.

Sixty-nine percent of Missouri’s winter wheat crop was rated good/excellent by USDA, while 26% was rated fair and 5% was rated poor. None of the crop was rated very poor. 

North Carolina

Farmers in North Carolina had harvested 38% of their winter wheat as of June 15, just one point behind the five-year average but 11 points behind progress a year ago. 

The condition of the crop in North Carolina was 55% good/excellent, 38% fair, and 7% poor/very poor. 

Oklahoma

With 30% of its winter wheat harvested, Oklahoma farmers are 16 percentage points behind the five-year average — the furthest behind of any state. Last year at this time, 78% of the crop had been harvested.

Sixty-two percent of the winter wheat crop in Oklahoma was in good/excellent condition as of June 15. As for the rest, 27% was rated fair, and 11% was rated poor/very poor. 

Texas

Rounding out the nine states with winter wheat harvest underway is Texas. The Lone Star State had the most winter wheat out of the field the week ending June 15, with 56% harvested. That’s just shy of the five-year average of 57%.

The condition of Texas’ winter wheat is the poorest of the nine states that have begun harvest. Only 37% was rated good/excellent, 33% was rated fair, and 30% was rated poor/very poor.