April 10/11
Wheat Crop Conditions US Southern Plains:
Cheri Zagurski
DTN Managing Editor
and
Anthony Greder
DTN News Editor
Drought conditions coupled with above-normal temperatures continue to plague the winter wheat crop in the southwest Plains. (DTN file photo)
OMAHA (DTN) -- U.S. wheat conditions continued to worsen, according to this week's USDA Crop Progress report, even prompting one DTN analyst, who is usually cautious about wheat condition proclamations, to use the word "ugly."
As of April 10, the nation's winter wheat crop was rated 36 percent very poor to poor, compared to 32 percent last week. Most of the movement came out of the "fair" category. The Kansas crop rating fell 5 percentage points to 37 percent very poor to poor; Oklahoma dropped from 53 percent to 60 percent very poor to poor; and Texas declined from 53 percent to 66 percent very poor to poor.
"The DTN Condition Index fell to 55 points from 67 points, well below last year when it stood at 164 points," said DTN Analyst John Sanow. "This should come as no surprise, considering the southwest Plains continued to suffer through drought conditions coupled with above-average temperatures.
Colorado
Most of the state received some precipitation last week, but levels were still below average for this time of year. The state continued to experience above-average temperatures. Farmers were allowed 5.4 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated 42 percent very short, 39 percent short, 16 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 38 percent very short, 40 percent short, 19 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. One percent of the corn crop was planted as of Sunday, equal to last year and the five-year average. Winter wheat was 7 percent pastured and 12 percent jointed, behind the five-year average of 14 percent. The crop was rated only 12 percent in good-to-excellent condition, far below last year's rating of 57 percent. Spring wheat was 15 percent seeded, behind the average of 18 percent.
Kansas
The state saw continued hot and dry conditions last week as temperatures reached into the 90s and precipitation was limited to a few areas in the east. There was an average of 5.6 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies statewide declined to 20 percent very short, 24 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies declined as well and were rated as 20 percent very short, 27 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Corn planting progressed to 5 percent complete as of Sunday, the same as the five-year average but slightly behind 6 percent last year. The winter wheat crop was 33 percent jointed, ahead of last year at 23 percent but behind 39 percent for the five-year average. The condition of the crop declined slightly and was rated at 14 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 25 percent good and 3 percent excellent.
Nebraska
Windy conditions and above-normal temperatures dried and warmed soils, preparing the way for spring planting, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Nebraska Field Office. Producers had 5.3 days suitable for field work. Temperatures averaged up to 8 degrees above normal with the warmest conditions in the eastern half of the state. The extreme southeastern part of the state recorded over an inch of precipitation, but the rest of the state saw only limited rainfall. Statewide, topsoil moisture levels were rated 5 percent very short, 30 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 30 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. One percent of the state's corn crop was planted as of Sunday. Wheat conditions were rated 36 percent good to excellent, below last year's 64 percent good-to-excellent rating.
Oklahoma
It was another hot, dry week for the state. The last four months were the fourth driest such period on record and the driest since 1971. Scattered rain showers were received last week, but the statewide average was only 0.19 inch. Topsoil moisture was rated 64 percent very short, 26 percent short and 10 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 59 percent very short, 31 percent short and 10 percent adequate. There were 6.5 days suitable for field work. Corn seedbed preparation reached 83 percent with 24 percent of the crop planted by Sunday. Soybean seedbed preparation was 33 percent complete, 5 percentage points behind normal. Wheat jointing was 85 percent complete by week's end, 3 percentage points ahead of normal. Wheat headed reached 8 percent complete. The crop was rated only 11 percent in good-to-excellent condition. The president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau stated that due to the lack of precipitation, some wheat producers are considering plowing under their fields and switching to another crop
Texas
Areas of the Blacklands region and northeast Texas received up to 1.5 inches of rainfall, while the rest of the state observed little to no moisture. As of Sunday, 55 percent of the corn crop was planted, ahead of last year's 47 percent but behind the five-year average of 58 percent. Forty percent of the crop was emerged, compared to 47 percent for the average. Soybeans were 52 percent planted, well ahead of the five-year average of 35 percent. Winter wheat was 22 percent headed, ahead of the five-year average of 16 percent. The wheat crop was rated only 11 percent in good condition and zero percent in excellent condition. Twenty-three percent was rated fair and 66 percent was very poor to poor."
Wheat Crop Conditions US Southern Plains:
Cheri Zagurski
DTN Managing Editor
and
Anthony Greder
DTN News Editor
Drought conditions coupled with above-normal temperatures continue to plague the winter wheat crop in the southwest Plains. (DTN file photo)
OMAHA (DTN) -- U.S. wheat conditions continued to worsen, according to this week's USDA Crop Progress report, even prompting one DTN analyst, who is usually cautious about wheat condition proclamations, to use the word "ugly."
As of April 10, the nation's winter wheat crop was rated 36 percent very poor to poor, compared to 32 percent last week. Most of the movement came out of the "fair" category. The Kansas crop rating fell 5 percentage points to 37 percent very poor to poor; Oklahoma dropped from 53 percent to 60 percent very poor to poor; and Texas declined from 53 percent to 66 percent very poor to poor.
"The DTN Condition Index fell to 55 points from 67 points, well below last year when it stood at 164 points," said DTN Analyst John Sanow. "This should come as no surprise, considering the southwest Plains continued to suffer through drought conditions coupled with above-average temperatures.
Colorado
Most of the state received some precipitation last week, but levels were still below average for this time of year. The state continued to experience above-average temperatures. Farmers were allowed 5.4 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated 42 percent very short, 39 percent short, 16 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 38 percent very short, 40 percent short, 19 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. One percent of the corn crop was planted as of Sunday, equal to last year and the five-year average. Winter wheat was 7 percent pastured and 12 percent jointed, behind the five-year average of 14 percent. The crop was rated only 12 percent in good-to-excellent condition, far below last year's rating of 57 percent. Spring wheat was 15 percent seeded, behind the average of 18 percent.
Kansas
The state saw continued hot and dry conditions last week as temperatures reached into the 90s and precipitation was limited to a few areas in the east. There was an average of 5.6 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies statewide declined to 20 percent very short, 24 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies declined as well and were rated as 20 percent very short, 27 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Corn planting progressed to 5 percent complete as of Sunday, the same as the five-year average but slightly behind 6 percent last year. The winter wheat crop was 33 percent jointed, ahead of last year at 23 percent but behind 39 percent for the five-year average. The condition of the crop declined slightly and was rated at 14 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 25 percent good and 3 percent excellent.
Nebraska
Windy conditions and above-normal temperatures dried and warmed soils, preparing the way for spring planting, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Nebraska Field Office. Producers had 5.3 days suitable for field work. Temperatures averaged up to 8 degrees above normal with the warmest conditions in the eastern half of the state. The extreme southeastern part of the state recorded over an inch of precipitation, but the rest of the state saw only limited rainfall. Statewide, topsoil moisture levels were rated 5 percent very short, 30 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 30 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. One percent of the state's corn crop was planted as of Sunday. Wheat conditions were rated 36 percent good to excellent, below last year's 64 percent good-to-excellent rating.
Oklahoma
It was another hot, dry week for the state. The last four months were the fourth driest such period on record and the driest since 1971. Scattered rain showers were received last week, but the statewide average was only 0.19 inch. Topsoil moisture was rated 64 percent very short, 26 percent short and 10 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 59 percent very short, 31 percent short and 10 percent adequate. There were 6.5 days suitable for field work. Corn seedbed preparation reached 83 percent with 24 percent of the crop planted by Sunday. Soybean seedbed preparation was 33 percent complete, 5 percentage points behind normal. Wheat jointing was 85 percent complete by week's end, 3 percentage points ahead of normal. Wheat headed reached 8 percent complete. The crop was rated only 11 percent in good-to-excellent condition. The president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau stated that due to the lack of precipitation, some wheat producers are considering plowing under their fields and switching to another crop
Texas
Areas of the Blacklands region and northeast Texas received up to 1.5 inches of rainfall, while the rest of the state observed little to no moisture. As of Sunday, 55 percent of the corn crop was planted, ahead of last year's 47 percent but behind the five-year average of 58 percent. Forty percent of the crop was emerged, compared to 47 percent for the average. Soybeans were 52 percent planted, well ahead of the five-year average of 35 percent. Winter wheat was 22 percent headed, ahead of the five-year average of 16 percent. The wheat crop was rated only 11 percent in good condition and zero percent in excellent condition. Twenty-three percent was rated fair and 66 percent was very poor to poor."
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