After a rocky start, things are continuing to look up for the 2025 US winter wheat crop.
In its final crop report for the 2024 season on Monday, the USDA pegged the nationwide winter wheat crop at 55% good to excellent as of Sunday. That is up 6 points from a week earlier and an increase of 11 points over the past two weeks alone. Since its initial rating at the end of October of just 38% good to excellent – one of the worst on record – the national winter wheat crop is now headed into the winter season rated 5 points above the previous year amid a dramatic improvement in soil moisture across large parts of the central Plains and the Midwest.
Today’s nationwide winter wheat rating also easily topped the average pre-report trade guess of 51% good to excellent.
In the No. 1 production state of Kansas, the winter wheat crop was also rated 55% good to excellent as of Sunday, a 6-point gain on the week. The improvement in Oklahoma was even more dramatic, jumping 11 points on the week to 48% good to excellent.
The condition of the Soft Red crop in Ohio also saw an 11-point improvement on the week, climbing to 70% good to excellent. Meanwhile, the Michigan crop was rated 77% good to excellent, up 3 points from the previous week.
Across the country, 89% of the winter wheat crop had emerged as of Sunday, up 5 points from a week earlier and on par with the average. National planting was reported at 97% complete as of Sunday, matching last year but 1 point behind the average.
The USDA does offer monthly winter wheat condition updates for various production states through the winter, but the next national weekly crop progress report will not be released until April 7, 2025.
