USDA: Cooler Weather Slows Winter Wheat Progress

Cooler weather across the country has slowed the progress of the national winter wheat crop.

"We continue to see cold weather slowing overall development of the crop, so it is running a few days behind schedule," said USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey. "38% of the U.S. winter wheat headed by May 9th. The five-year average is 46%. Last year at this time  we were 42% headed."

When it comes to the condition for the week ending May 9th.

"We just saw a 1 point change in the good to excellent ratings, a 1 point change in the very poor to poor ratings So not much over change. We are not at 49% good to excellent up a point from last week. 18% very poor to poor that's down a point."

"On the national level, very little change. If you break it down a little more by state, the biggest problems are showing up in some of the drought areas.," Rippey added.

That includes states like Oregon, Montana, Texas, Colorado, and South Dakota. 

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