U.S. winter wheat condition was rated 56 percent good to excellent as of Sunday, March 31, up significantly from 28 percent at the same time last year, according to USDA NASS’ first weekly national Crop Progress report of the year released Monday. Aside from Kansas, the Southern Plains (Oklahoma and Texas) have improved winter wheat crop conditions since last week by a few percent.
Winter wheat headed reached 4 percent, down 1 percentage point from the previous year and up 2 points from the five-year average. Winter wheat conditions rated 56 percent good to excellent, 33 percent fair and 11 percent poor to very poor. Conditions at this time last year rated 28 percent good to excellent, 36 percent fair and 36 percent poor to very poor.
Corn planted for the U.S. reached 2 percent, even with the previous year and up 1 percentage point from the five-year average.
Cotton planted reached 3 percent, even with the previous year, and down 1 percentage point from the five-year average.
Sorghum planted reached 11 percent, down 1 percentage point from the previous year and down 2 points from the five-year average.
Winter wheat jointing reached 45 percent, up 13 points from the previous year and up 7 points from normal. Winter wheat conditions rated 73 percent good to excellent, 23 percent fair and 4 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 70 percent good to excellent, 24 percent fair and 6 percent poor to very poor.
Livestock conditions rated 66 percent good to excellent, 28 percent fair and 6 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 61 percent good to excellent, 33 percent fair and 6 percent poor to very poor.
Pasture and range conditions rated 38 percent good to excellent, 43 percent fair and 19 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 41 percent good to excellent, 41 percent fair and 18 percent poor to very poor.
Winter wheat joined was 16 percent, ahead of 8 percent last year and 6 percent for the five-year average. Winter wheat conditions rated 48 percent good to excellent, 37 percent fair and 15 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 53 percent good to excellent, 34 percent fair, and 13 percent poor to very poor.
Corn planted was 2 percent, near 1 percent both last year and average.
Winter wheat headed reached 20 percent, down 8 percentage points from the previous week and down 2 points from the five-year average. Winter wheat conditions rated 44 percent good to excellent, 38 percent fair and 18 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 41 percent good to excellent, 35 percent fair and 14 percent poor to very poor.
Sorghum planted reached 42 percent, down 2 percentage points form the previous year and the five-year average.
Cotton planted reached 5 percent, even with the previous year and down one percentage point from the five-year average.
Corn planted reached 57 percent, up one percentage point from the previous year and up 4 points from the five-year average.
Range and pasture conditions rated 21 percent good to excellent, 34 percent fair and 45 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 21 percent good to excellent, 37 percent fair and 42 percent poor to very poor.
