The condition of the Kansas winter wheat crop has slipped slightly from November amid increasing southern Plains dryness.
The crop in the top winter wheat-producing state was pegged at 60% good to excellent as of Jan. 4, down two points from the end of November, when the USDA released its final weekly crop progress report for the 2025 growing season. Still, the condition of the Kansas crop remains well above the year earlier crop rating of 47% good to excellent.
The condition of the Colorado crop fell more sharply, dropping 26 points from November to 43% good to excellent – compared to 70% last year. The Nebraska crop was rated 40% good to excellent as of early January, down from 54% in November but well up from 27% a year ago.
Much of Hard Red Winter country has been drier than normal over the past month, with periods of well above-normal temperatures that prevented some crops from going dormant or fully dormant. Based on the latest US drought monitor, about 40% of American winter wheat areas were being impacted by some form of drought as of the end of December, up a couple of points from the previous week and well above 26% last year.
Rain and snow were in the forecast for the southern Plains today through Friday, potentially delivering the best moisture since the end of November, World Weather said in a report Wednesday. However, drier and warmer weather is likely to quickly return next week, potentially lasting into the latter half of January.
Meanwhile, the condition of Soft Red Winter crops has improved in some states. The Michigan crop was rated 64% good to excellent, up from 59% in November but below 76% last year. The Illinois crop was also rated 64% good to excellent, compared to 56% in November and 69% a year ago. At 60% good to excellent, the condition of the Ohio crop was down 2 points from November but still up from 57% last year.
