Winter Wheat Conditions Looking Good Nationally

The national winter wheat picture is looking fairy good for this time of year.  According to the first USDA numbers 56% is rated good to excellent, 15% very poor to poor, which is just slightly better than this time last year.  USDA Meteorologist, Brad Rippey said, the amount of winter wheat planted is ahead of schedule.

"Winter wheat planting in wrapping up in most areas still struggling to plant a few acres in north. And of course in the south east it's a later planting season, but overall 85% planted 82% is the five year average it's also ahead of last year's 77%."

Rippey noted weather is making it especially hard for producers in Montana to get the wheat in to the ground.

"Wheat emergence 63% nationally; one point behind the five year average but one percentage point ahead of this time a year ago."

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