The U.S. spring wheat harvest accelerated sharply this past week, while crop condition ratings slipped slightly.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the national spring wheat harvest at 62% complete as of Sunday, up 21 points from a week earlier. Progress was also well ahead of the 51% harvested at the same point last year and the five-year average of 52%.
South Dakota remained furthest along, with 91% of its spring wheat crop harvested, up from 81% a week earlier and ahead of the 85% average. Minnesota reached 78% complete, up from 63%. North Dakota, the largest U.S. spring wheat-producing state, made strong progress as well, with 56% of the crop harvested, up from 37% the previous week and ahead of the five-year average of 40%. Montana harvest reached 55%, nearly doubling from 28% a week earlier, although progress remained slightly behind the 60% average.
Meanwhile, national spring wheat condition ratings weakened modestly. The USDA rated 51% of the crop good to excellent as of Sunday, down 1 point from a week earlier. That remained above the 49% rated good to excellent at the same time last year.
Minnesota continued to have the strongest crop, with 91% rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. Montana improved to 54% good to excellent from 47%. Conditions weakened in North Dakota, where 39% of the crop was rated good to excellent, down from 44% a week earlier. South Dakota also slipped, falling to 42% from 45%.
