What’s Going on With the U.S. Winter Wheat Crop?

In its final Crop Progress report of the growing season, the USDA on Monday detailed the progress and condition of the nation’s growing winter wheat crop. Only a small percentage of the crop is not yet planted, and 87% of it is out of the ground. Plus, overall crop conditions improved compared to a week ago.

Here’s a final state-by-state look at the condition and progress of the country’s winter wheat crop.

Condition

Across the top 18 winter wheat-growing states, 48% of the crop was rated good/excellent as of Nov. 23. That’s an improvement compared to last week, when the percentage was only 45%, but it’s worse than last year at this time, when good/excellent wheat made up 55% of the crop.

Crop condition among states varied widely, based on the USDA report. Farmers in California are finding 95% of their crop in the top two condition categories, while for growers in Montana, that percentage is just 10%.

Including California, 14 of the 18 top states had a higher percentage of good/excellent winter wheat than the 48% average.

Besides Montana, good/excellent wheat in Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas fell below the 48% average.

Planting

Average planting progress across the top 18 winter wheat-growing states had reached 97% by Sunday, on track with the five-year average.

Farmers in eight states were done with planting:

• Colorado
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Michigan
• Montana
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Washington

Here’s how progress in all states measured up to respective five-year averages.

Emergence

An average of 87% of the winter wheat crop was out of the ground by Nov. 23, just shy of the five-year average.

Half of the top states were behind their five-year averages for emergence progress, four were on track with averages, and five were ahead.

Here’s how progress in all states measured up to respective five-year averages.