The U.S. winter wheat harvest advanced past two-thirds complete this past week, while spring wheat conditions improved slightly, according to Monday’s USDA crop progress report.
The winter wheat harvest reached 67% complete as of Sunday, up 8 percentage points from the previous week. Progress was ahead of both the 62% reported a year earlier and the five-year average of 61%.
In Kansas, the largest winter wheat-producing state, harvest advanced to 97% complete from 91% a week earlier, well ahead of 87% last year and the 93% average. Oklahoma reached 99%, up from 98%, while Texas moved to 94% from 89%.
Harvest also accelerated in the Soft Red Winter region. Ohio reached 76% complete, up sharply from 44% the previous week and matching its five-year average. Michigan advanced to 22% from 9%, although progress remained slightly behind the 24% average. Illinois reached 88% harvested, up from 78%.
Meanwhile, the U.S. spring wheat crop was rated 58% good to excellent as of Sunday, up 1 point from the previous week and above the 54% rating from a year earlier.
Conditions varied widely among the major producing states. North Dakota improved 8 points to 65% good to excellent, while Minnesota climbed 6 points to 92%. Montana deteriorated sharply, falling 10 points to 33%, while South Dakota slipped 2 points to 48%.
Spring wheat development also moved quickly, with 72% of the crop headed as of Sunday, up from 54% a week earlier. Progress matched the five-year average but remained behind 76% last year.
North Dakota reached 78% headed, up from 53%, while Minnesota advanced to 78% from 65%. South Dakota climbed to 97%, and Montana reached 41%, up from 28% the previous week.
