The condition of the U.S. winter wheat crop in Kansas — the nation’s largest winter wheat-producing state — slipped slightly heading into early March but remains generally stable compared the fall.
Monthly USDA crop condition ratings released Wednesday pegged the Kansas crop at 58% good to excellent, down from 61% in early February and slightly below the 62% rating recorded in late November when the USDA issued its final weekly crop condition report for 2025.
Ratings across other winter wheat states were more mixed as spring approaches.
In Colorado, the crop slipped to 39% good to excellent in March, down sharply from 57% in early February. The condition of the Nebraska crop fell to 18% good (0% excellent), compared with 24% good to excellent in February. Conditions in northern Plains states have also been relatively weak. Montana’s crop was rated 18% good and 0% excellent in March, little changed from the 19% good to excellent rating in February.
In contrast, winter wheat conditions have remained comparatively stable in key Soft Red Winter wheat states. Michigan’s crop was rated 63% good to excellent in March, down only slightly from 64% in February, while Ohio improved to 60% excellent, rebounding from a 55% good to excellent rating in February.
Weather conditions remain a key uncertainty for the crop.
According to World Weather Inc., large portions of the southern Plains continue to experience abnormally dry to drought conditions, largely linked to the influence of La Nina, which produced drier-than-normal weather over the winter. Texas and Oklahoma have been especially affected, while parts of Kansas, Colorado and southern Nebraska have also seen expanding dryness.
Precipitation across the central Plains has been uneven, leaving winter wheat prospects highly variable across the region.
