The U.S. winter wheat harvest moved closer to completion this past week, while spring wheat harvesting accelerated sharply across the northern Plains.
Monday's USDA crop progress report showed 91% of the American winter wheat crop was in the bin as of Sunday, up 5 points from a week earlier. Progress was ahead of the 89% harvested at the same point last year and matched the five-year average.
At the same time, the spring wheat harvest jumped to 24% complete nationally, up from just 5% the previous week. Progress was well ahead of the 14% harvested a year earlier and the five-year average of 19%.
For spring wheat, South Dakota remained furthest along, with 65% of the crop harvested, up sharply from 39% a week earlier. Progress was well ahead of both last year’s 40% and the five-year average of 53%.
Minnesota’s harvest surged to 28% from 4%, compared with 14% last year and the 25% average. North Dakota reached 20% harvested, up from just 2% the previous week and ahead of 8% last year and the 10% average. Montana advanced to 17% from 1%, although that remained behind 19% last year and the five-year average of 25%.
Meanwhile, national spring wheat conditions deteriorated, with 51% of the crop rated good to excellent as of Sunday, down 4 points from the previous week. That was still slightly above the 49% rating at the same time last year.
Minnesota spring wheat slipped 2 points to 88% good to excellent, while Montana declined 5 points to 50%. South Dakota eased 1 point to 42%, while North Dakota fell 2 points to 44% good to excellent.
