Rippey: Drought Hurting Spring Wheat

The drought is taking a toll on the nation's spring wheat crop.

"Just 38% of the crop rated good to excellent. 25% rated very poor to poor that represents a decline from last week which was not a very good number 42% good to excellent 20% very poor to poor," USDA Meteorologist, Brad Rippey noted the Northwest one of the most impacted areas.

"And in almost all of the production state we're seeing very low conditions historically for this time of year. Washington state, leading the nation now 56% of the crop rated very poor to poor. Also seeing high numbers coming in our of the Dakotas. 33% in South Dakota, and 29% in North Dakota rated very poor to poor. The crop appears to be in a bit of trouble with the heat on top of the drought. Compare that to this time a year ago we had a remarkable 82% of the crop rated good to excellent and just 1% very poor to poor. What a difference a year makes for the spring wheat crop."

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