American spring wheat planting advanced well this past week, while the condition of the winter wheat crop remained pointed lower.
The USDA crop progress report Monday put the American winter wheat crop at 45% good to excellent as of Sunday, down 2 points from a week earlier and now 3 points below the first national rating of the season two weeks ago. An estimated 21% of the crop was rated in poor to very poor condition as of Sunday, up 2 points from the previous week and now 5 points higher than last year.
The condition of the No. 1 production state of Kansas crop slipped 2 points from a week earlier to 41% good to excellent as of Sunday – down 10 points over the previous two weeks. At 39% good to excellent, the condition of the Oklahoma crop was down 5 points on the week. On the other hand, the condition of the Soft Red crop in Michigan improved a single point to 65% good to excellent, while Ohio was up 2 points to 61%.
An estimated 15% of the US winter wheat crop had reached the heading stage as of Sunday, up from 8% the previous week and compared to 16% last year and 13% on average.
Meanwhile, US spring wheat planting gained 10 points from a week earlier to reach 17% complete as of Sunday, 3 points ahead of last year and 5 points better than average.
In the top production state of North Dakota, 10% of the crop was in the ground as of Sunday, up 7 points on the week and ahead of 6% last year and 5% on average. Montana planting advanced 13 points to 16% complete, versus just 6% last year and 9% on average. Planting in South Dakota jumped 23 points to half done as of Sunday, compared to 38% last year and 27% on average.
However, progress is lagging in Minnesota, where just 3% of the crop was planted, up only 2 points on the week and behind 16% last year and 6% on average.
The national spring wheat crop was estimated at 2% emerged as of Sunday, even with last year and the five-year average.
