06/14/05 Slow U.S. winter wheat harvest progress

Farm and Ranch June 14, 2005 Heading of the U.S. winter wheat crop is just slightly ahead of the average pace for this time but harvesting of the crop is off to a slow start. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has the details. Rippey: "The percentage of the crop headed has now reached 93% nationally. That is ahead of the five-year average of 92%. And even in the north where there had been some delays in the crop reaching the heading stage, Montana advanced from 3% headed a week ago to 29% this week. Now just four points behind their five-year average of 33%. Winter wheat harvesting underway in the south. Nationally 12% of the winter wheat crop is harvested. A bit behind the five-year average of 16%. Some of the delays there mainly across the south. Oklahoma 39% harvested. The five-year average 49%. Texas 38 versus 46%. And some thunderstorms sweeping through the southern Plains slowing field work in last week or so." Development of the winter wheat crops in Washington and Oregon are quite a bit ahead of the five year average for now with 100 percent headed in Oregon and 95 percent in Washington. Idaho's crop is behind average at 33 percent headed. The biggest change in winter wheat ratings in the region came in Oregon where the percentage of the crop in good to excellent condition jumped to 65 percent, up from 51 percent last week. Washington's spring wheat crop is also showing rapid development at 60 percent headed compared to the five-year average for now of 38 percent. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.