The condition of the US winter wheat crop rebounded further this past week, while spring wheat planting reached two-thirds complete.
According to Monday’s USDA crop progress report, 54% of the American winter wheat crop was in good to excellent condition as of Sunday. That is up 3 points on the week, surprising traders and analysts who were looking for the condition of the crop to just hold steady.
With the gain, the condition of the winter wheat crop has now improved 9 points over the past three weeks and sits 4 points above last year.
Meanwhile, spring wheat planting jumped 22 points on the week to 66% done as of Sunday, 7 points ahead of last year and 17 points ahead of average.
In the largest production state of Kansas, the winter wheat crop was reported at 48% good to excellent as of Sunday, up a single point on the week, while the Oklahoma crop improved 5 points to 53% good to excellent.
The Soft Red crop in Michigan improved a major 13 points on the week to 70% good to excellent, while the Ohio crop gained 4 points to 65%.
Across the country, 53% of the winter wheat crop had reached the heading stage as of Sunday, up from 39% the previous week. That compares to 55% last year and 45% on average.
Spring wheat planting in the top production state of North Dakota climbed 23 points from a week earlier to 58% complete as of Sunday, compared to 47% last year and 35% on average.
The Minnesota spring wheat crop was 67% planted, up from 30% a week earlier and ahead of 46% on average, while the Montana crop was 61% planted, versus 42% the previous week and 55% on average. The South Dakota crop is now almost entirely planted (98%), versus 87% last year and 80% on average.
The American spring wheat crop was 27% emerged as of Sunday, up 14 points on the week and ahead of 23% last year and 19% on average.
