Winter Wheat Harvest Underway in 6 Key States, USDA Says

Farmers in six of the top 18 winter-wheat growing states have begun to harvest the crop, according to USDA’s latest Crop Progress report. As of June 1, 3% of the harvest was complete nationwide, on track with the five-year average. 

Here’s a closer look at which states have kicked off harvest.

Texas

Winter wheat harvest is most complete in Texas. Growers in the Lone Star State had completed 25% of harvest by June 1, which was a jump of 8 percentage points in a week. That’s just behind the five-year average of 27%.

Texas may be at the top when it comes to winter wheat harvest progress, but its crop condition is relatively low. Just 30% of Texas’s winter wheat was rated good-to-excellent by the USDA. Of the top 18 states, only Nebraska had a lower percentage of good-to-excellent winter wheat (23%).

Overall, the USDA rated Texas’s winter wheat 11% very poor, 18% poor, 41% fair, 25% good, and 5% excellent.

Arkansas

In Arkansas, winter wheat harvest was 8% wrapped up by June 1, which is just shy of the five-year average of 9%. The week prior, harvest was only 1% complete. 

The USDA rated the winter wheat in Arkansas 3% very poor, 8% poor, 40% fair, 46% good, and 3% excellent. 

California

Winter wheat harvest in California was 5% complete by June 1, up from 0% the week prior and ahead of the five-year average of 3%. The Golden State was the only state ahead of average.

California was also the only top-growing state with no winter wheat rated very poor/poor. With all but 5% of its crop rated good-to-excellent, it also had the best-rated winter wheat by far. 

Overall, the USDA rated California’s winter wheat 5% fair, 25% good, and 70% excellent.

North Carolina

In North Carolina, winter wheat harvest was also 5% finished by June 1, which is behind the five-year average of 7%. The week prior, harvest was only 1% complete. 

None of North Carolina’s winter wheat was rated very poor by the USDA. Overall, the crop was rated 2% poor, 24% fair, 68% good, and 6% excellent.

Oklahoma

Winter wheat harvest in Oklahoma increased 1 percentage point the week ending June 1, reaching 4%, which is notably behind the five-year average of 9%. 

The crop was rated 4% very poor, 9% poor, 32% fair, 51% good, and 4% excellent by USDA.

Missouri

In Missouri, winter wheat harvest was 1% wrapped up by June 1, which is on track with the five-year average. Harvest was at 0% the week prior.

None of Missouri’s winter wheat was rated very poor by the USDA. Overall, the crop was rated 4% poor, 21% fair, 65% good, and 10% excellent.