Winter wheat conditions slipped slightly in the No. 1 production state of Kansas this past week but moved higher in nearby states.
A state crop progress report released Monday afternoon pegged the Kansas winter wheat crop at 53% good to excellent as of Sunday, down 2 points from a week earlier but well above last year’s rating of just 19% good to excellent.
Kansas topsoil moisture was rated 55% adequate to surplus as of Sunday, an improvement from 33% last year, while 45% was rated short to very short, down from 67% at this time last year.
The Oklahoma winter wheat crop was rated 70% good to excellent as of Sunday, up a major 9 points on the week and 36 points above a year ago. The Texas crop was up 5 points from a week earlier to 51% good to excellent as of Sunday, versus only 18% last year. At 68% good to excellent, the condition of the Colorado crop was up 3 points on the week and up 40 points from last year.
Winter wheat conditions on the southern Plains have benefited from much better fall and winter precipitation compared to a year earlier. According to the latest weekly US drought monitor, only 12% of the US winter wheat production area was being impacted by some form of drought as of March 19, down 2 points from a week earlier and 39 points below last year.
In Kansas, an estimated 7% of the winter wheat crop was in the joint stage of development as of Sunday.
