Winter Wheat Ahead of Schedule

Winter Wheat Ahead of Schedule

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett

Continued dry weather has allowed Colorado's wheat producers to nearly double their planting from a week ago.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service Colorado Field Office reports 24 percent winter wheat planted a week ago. At last check the number was up to 47 percent.

USDA meteorologist, Brad Rippey says nationwide winter wheat is ahead of schedule.

"The planting progress advanced byond one quarter of the intended acreage to reach 28 percent. That is ahead of the five year average of 26 percent and ahead of last year's 22 percent. We did see some dry weather across the central plains and that promoted some very rapid planting progress in Colorado which planted almost a quarter of its crop at 23 percent during the week to reach 47 percent."

And according to NASS, northeastern and east central counties noted winter wheat being seeded into dry topsoil. In southwestern counties, hot and dry temperatures meant no relief from exceptional drought conditions, and very little winter wheat has been planted. In the San Luis Valley, potato harvest picked up last week as well as producers starting the third cutting of alfalfa. 91-percent of Spring wheat has been harvested.

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