Spring Wheat Harvest Catching Up, Says Rippey

Spring wheat harvest is moving quickly across the country, making up for some earlier crop developmental delays.

"We're seeing the spring wheat harvest reaching the 49% mark by August 23rd," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. "That he behind the five-year average of 62%, but well ahead of last year's 32%."

Rippey noted some of the biggest improvement in harvest have been reported in the High Plains. He said states like South Dakota ahead of the average at this point, and nearly back to normal in Montana where 55% of the spring wheat harvested  is just two points behind the five-year average.

"And as the season winds down, we're seeing 71% of the spring wheat rated good to excellent, 6% very poor to poor and that is a favorable comparison to last year," Rippey continued. "Just slightly better than last year 69% good to excellent, and 6% very poor to poor."

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