The US winter wheat harvest is underway, with development running ahead of normal.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the nationwide winter wheat crop at 49% good to excellent as of Sunday, up a single point from a week earlier, and well above 36% at this time a year ago.
In the top production state of Kansas, the condition of the crop was up 2 points from a week earlier to 34% good to excellent. The condition of the Oklahoma crop improved 3 points, to 56% good to excellent.
The condition of the Soft Red Winter Ohio crop was rated 71% good to excellent as of Sunday, down 1 point from the previous week, while the Michigan crop was rated 74% good to excellent, up 1 point on the week.
Across the country, 83% of the winter wheat crop had headed as of Sunday, versus 77% the previous week and last year and 78% on average.
The Kansas crop was 97% headed as of Sunday, versus 95% on average.
In Ohio, 96% of the crop was already heading as of Sunday, up from 88% a week earlier. As for Michigan, 77% of the crop was heading as of Sunday, compared to 56% a week earlier, and just 38% on average.
Harvest is picking up on the Southern Plains. Nationwide, 6% of the crop was in the bin as of Sunday, ahead of 3% last year and normally.
