The U.S. winter wheat harvest inched closer to completion this past week, while spring wheat harvesting remained in its early stages.
Monday's USDA crop progress report showed 86% of the American winter wheat crop was in the bin as of Sunday, up a modest 5 points from a week earlier and on par with the five-year average. At the same time, the spring wheat harvest reached 5% complete nationally, up from 2% the previous week. Progress was slightly ahead of the 4% harvested a year earlier but behind the five-year average of 8%.
Michigan’s winter wheat harvest climbed to 90% complete, up sharply from 75% the previous week. Progress was also ahead of both last year and the five-year average, which stood at 87%.
For the spring wheat harvest, South Dakota remained furthest along, with 39% of its crop in the bin. That was up sharply from 19% a week earlier and ahead of both last year’s 21% and the five-year average of 34%.
Minnesota’s harvest advanced to 4% from 1%, matching last year but trailing the 11% average. North Dakota reached 2% harvested, compared to 1% last year and the 2% average. Montana was 1% complete, up from zero the previous week but behind 3% last year and the 10% average.
An estimated 98% of the national spring wheat crop was headed as of Sunday, up from 92% a week earlier. That compares to 95% last year and the five-year average of 97%.
Meanwhile, national spring wheat conditions improved. The crop was rated 55% good to excellent as of Sunday, up 2 percentage points from the previous week.
The Minnesota spring wheat crop improved 2 points to 90% good to excellent, while Montana climbed 12 points to 55%. South Dakota surged 16 points to 43%. North Dakota moved in the opposite direction, falling 6 points to 46% good to excellent.
