Rippey Looks At Winter & Spring Wheat Numbers

The wheat growing season is progressing nicely across the country.

"The winter wheat crop, two thirds, or 67% headed nationally on May 23rd Catching up to the five-year average which is 69% and actually moving ahead of last year's 66%, said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.

He said winter wheat condition was a mixed bag.

"We saw a one point decline in good to excellent ratings from 48 to 47% But we saw a one point decline in the very poor to poor ratings from 19% to 18%. So we gained in both of those outlying categories."

Rippey also took the first look of the year on the spring crop.

"We don't have any comparison to last week, we don't have an comparison to last year because we have an earlier crop. But it is worth nothing that not surprisingly we are dealing with some issues with condition early in the Season. Only 45% of the crop rated good to excellent 14% very poor to poor."

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