US winter wheat makes worst start on
record.
agrimoney
The US winter wheat crop, which accounts
for the majority of the country's
harvest, has got off to its worst start
since records began, undermined by poor
conditions which have forced some
farmers to reseed.
Growers, who held off sowing into dry
soils early on in the season, caught up
on plantings, with 88% in the ground as
of Tuesday, ahead of the long-term
average, US Department of Agriculture
data showed.
The seedings come ahead of a seasonal
deadline, with "the rule of thumb to
have wheat in the ground by November 1",
Paul Georgy, president of broker
Allendale, said.
Wet ground has also delayed some
farmers, with Mr Georgy, following a
field trip citing "wet field conditions"
for testing Ohio growers, who were 6
points behind the usual sowing pace.
'Drought of a century'
On emergence, the crop caught up ground
too, with 63% out of the ground, closing
to four points the gap behind the
average pace.
However, the condition of seedlings was,
at 40% rated "good" or "excellent", down
six points on the figure last year,
which was itself considered a weak
result.
"This is the lowest figure since
recording of these data began in 1985,"
Commerzbank analysts said.
"Evidently the consequences of this
year's 'drought of a century' are still
being felt to some extent."
At Benson Quinn Commodities, Brian Henry
said that "what you need to know is
Kansas", the top producing state, "is
rated 37% good or excellent, and
Oklahoma is rated 27%".
'Poor stands and wind damage'
Indeed, while the proportion of Ohio
still in some degree of drought has
fallen to 27%, according to official
data, the proportion in both Kansas and
Oklahoma is 100%.
In Kansas, USDA scouts, noting that
"producers saw dry and windy weather"
last week, said that "substantial
moisture is still needed throughout the
state to establish the 2013 wheat crop
and replenish ponds for livestock".
Windy weather was noted too in South
Dakota, where just 5% of wheat seedlings
were rated in good condition, and none
as excellent.
"There some reports this past week of
winter wheat being blown out in some
areas due to two days of high winds,"
USDA officials said.
Better for soft red winter
In Nebraska, where 9% of the crop made
the top two grades, "some winter wheat
fields were reseeded due to poor stands
and wind damage".
However, in some of the Midwest states,
which grow soft red winter wheat, the
type traded in Chicago, rather than the
wider-sown hard red winter wheat planted
in the likes of Kansas, crops got off to
a better start.
The proportion rated good or excellent
in Indiana was 69%, in Illinois 75% and
Michigan 73%, all states where drought
has eased considerably.
"Unsurprisingly, the worst crop
conditions are in the northern hard red
winter wheat belt," Luke Mathews at
Commonwealth Bank of Australia said.
Poor winter wheat condition in late
October is considered to give some
indication of crop prospects, given that
the crop will soon be approaching
dormancy and the test of winter, with
frosts already recorded in many states.
However, there are occassions, as indeed
last season, where crops have overcome
poor starts to achieve strong yields.
record.
agrimoney
The US winter wheat crop, which accounts
for the majority of the country's
harvest, has got off to its worst start
since records began, undermined by poor
conditions which have forced some
farmers to reseed.
Growers, who held off sowing into dry
soils early on in the season, caught up
on plantings, with 88% in the ground as
of Tuesday, ahead of the long-term
average, US Department of Agriculture
data showed.
The seedings come ahead of a seasonal
deadline, with "the rule of thumb to
have wheat in the ground by November 1",
Paul Georgy, president of broker
Allendale, said.
Wet ground has also delayed some
farmers, with Mr Georgy, following a
field trip citing "wet field conditions"
for testing Ohio growers, who were 6
points behind the usual sowing pace.
'Drought of a century'
On emergence, the crop caught up ground
too, with 63% out of the ground, closing
to four points the gap behind the
average pace.
However, the condition of seedlings was,
at 40% rated "good" or "excellent", down
six points on the figure last year,
which was itself considered a weak
result.
"This is the lowest figure since
recording of these data began in 1985,"
Commerzbank analysts said.
"Evidently the consequences of this
year's 'drought of a century' are still
being felt to some extent."
At Benson Quinn Commodities, Brian Henry
said that "what you need to know is
Kansas", the top producing state, "is
rated 37% good or excellent, and
Oklahoma is rated 27%".
'Poor stands and wind damage'
Indeed, while the proportion of Ohio
still in some degree of drought has
fallen to 27%, according to official
data, the proportion in both Kansas and
Oklahoma is 100%.
In Kansas, USDA scouts, noting that
"producers saw dry and windy weather"
last week, said that "substantial
moisture is still needed throughout the
state to establish the 2013 wheat crop
and replenish ponds for livestock".
Windy weather was noted too in South
Dakota, where just 5% of wheat seedlings
were rated in good condition, and none
as excellent.
"There some reports this past week of
winter wheat being blown out in some
areas due to two days of high winds,"
USDA officials said.
Better for soft red winter
In Nebraska, where 9% of the crop made
the top two grades, "some winter wheat
fields were reseeded due to poor stands
and wind damage".
However, in some of the Midwest states,
which grow soft red winter wheat, the
type traded in Chicago, rather than the
wider-sown hard red winter wheat planted
in the likes of Kansas, crops got off to
a better start.
The proportion rated good or excellent
in Indiana was 69%, in Illinois 75% and
Michigan 73%, all states where drought
has eased considerably.
"Unsurprisingly, the worst crop
conditions are in the northern hard red
winter wheat belt," Luke Mathews at
Commonwealth Bank of Australia said.
Poor winter wheat condition in late
October is considered to give some
indication of crop prospects, given that
the crop will soon be approaching
dormancy and the test of winter, with
frosts already recorded in many states.
However, there are occassions, as indeed
last season, where crops have overcome
poor starts to achieve strong yields.
Comment