In this week’s USDA update, winter wheat planting has moved ahead to 91 percent completion - right in line with the five-year average. In the Plains, Nebraska and South Dakota are finished, while Kansas stands at 95 percent completion.
The winter wheat condition rating held steady at 45 percent good to excellent. In the key production states of the Plains, Kansas has by far the best condition which is rated 62 percent good to excellent - the same as last week. Oddly enough, neighboring Oklahoma went down seven points to 52 percent, but Oklahoma’s southerly neighbor, Texas, improved by six points. However, Texas still has only 23 percent of its crop making the good to excellent grade due to intensifying dry conditions.
Generally, favorable weather allowed the nation’s corn harvest to forge ahead to an 84 percent completion rate compared to the five-year average of 78 percent. In the critical I-80 Corridor, Illinois has reached the 90 percent completion mark followed by Iowa at 84 percent and Nebraska at 82 percent.
The national soybean harvest is now pegged at 87 percent complete which is only one point behind its average pace. The west end of the I-80 Corridor continues to show the most progress with both Nebraska and Iowa reaching 95 percent completion as of Sunday. Indiana is running 12 points behind average with 77 percent harvested.
The cotton harvest nationwide moved ahead by 10 points last week to put it at 55 percent complete. But, that is still two points behind schedule. Among the top five producing states, Mississippi leads with 72 percent now out of the field, but that is still 15 points behind its five-year average. The top producing state of Texas is now 51 percent done and that would actually be four points ahead of its average.
Grain sorghum (milo) harvest has reached 86 completion compared to its average of 80 percent. The largest producing state of Texas is now officially done for the year. In the Plains, South Dakota and Colorado are getting close to completion with 92 and 90 percent respectively.
The nation’s peanut harvest proceeded by 12 points last week to now stand at 79 percent complete versus its average of 82 percent by this week on the calendar. Florida is coming down the home stretch with 93 percent of its crop harvested which is still two points behind its average pace. The top producing state of Georgia is now 81 percent done with its harvest, but lagging its average by five points.
Note: USDA has stopped posting Pasture Condition ratings for the rest of this year.
In the topsoil moisture deficit section, Montana maintains the top spot with 95 percent of its acres reportedly short to very short on moisture. New Mexico holds the second driest rating at 80 percent short to very short. Washington state, which held the top spot for much of the year, continues to see improvement from recent moisture as it is has improved to “only” 66 percent short to very short. However, a couple of significant weather systems moving through that region this week should improve their numbers even more.
Montana also has a lock on the top spot in the subsoil moisture deficit section as it reports 94 percent of its acreage is short to very short. New Mexico also holds the second-place spot in this section at 80 percent while Wyoming edges out Washington state with a rating of 74 percent short to very short.
