Spring Wheat Harvest Reported in 3 States as Condition Declines for Third Consecutive Week

In its latest Crop Progress report, USDA reported spring wheat harvest in three of the top states for the week that ended July 27. But as harvest picks up, the condition of the crop is declining.

For the top spring wheat-growing states, the percentage of the crop rated good/excellent decreased for a third straight week and reached its lowest point of July.

Here’s a closer look at how harvest is going in the three states reporting, plus the condition of the crop in each.

Idaho

Idaho’s spring wheat harvest reached 4% the week ending July 27, up from 1% the week prior. Progress is ahead of the five-year average of 2%. Last year at this time, harvest had not yet begun in the state.

All of Idaho’s spring wheat has headed, USDA reported.

Exactly half of the spring wheat in Idaho was rated good/excellent. USDA rated most of the rest fair, but 16% was rated poor/very poor.

South Dakota

Spring wheat harvest in South Dakota jumped seven points during the week that ended July 27 to reach 10%, USDA reported. Progress is behind the five-year average by 6 percentage points. Last year at this time, 7% of the crop was harvested.

USDA said 100% of South Dakota’s spring wheat had headed.

Good/excellent wheat in South Dakota made up 56% of the crop, USDA said. None of the crop was in very poor condition.

Washington

Finally, 11% of Washington’s spring wheat had been harvested by July 27, the most of the three states. Progress jumped 10 percentage points since the week prior. Harvest in Washington is ahead of both the five-year average, 8%, and progress a year ago, 4%.

Like the other two states reporting spring wheat harvest, all of the crop in Washington had headed as of July 27.

Washington’s crop is some of the worst in the nation: Nearly half was rated poor/very poor, and only 16% was rated good/excellent.