When it comes to the national winter wheat crop, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said planting is nearly complete, with 95% of the crop in the ground.  He said that's very close to the five-year average.  Rippey noted there are weather issues that could impact producers, especially in the Midwest.

 

"Some of the northern areas have fallen victim to the same wetness that has curtailed harvest. So for example in Michigan 89% of the intended winter wheat acreage has been planted there; 5 year average is 98%. This late in the year that far north some doubt whether you can ever plan at all."

 

When it comes to emergence, Rippey says the national crop is at 83%, slightly lower than the five-year average of 86%.

 

"And wheat condition heading the wrong direction the last couple of weeks, we're not sitting at 52% good to excellent 14% very poor to poor a week ago we were 54% good to excellent and just 13% very poor to poor."

 

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