11/01/05 Winter wheat progress and condition

11/01/05 Winter wheat progress and condition

Farm and Ranch November 1, 2005 Winter wheat planting is nearing completion across much of the U.S. according to USDA's latest crop progress report. Department meteorologist Brad Rippey tells how much of the crop was in the ground as of October 30th. Rippey: "Ninety two percent nationally. Five year average is 88%. And the only areas with an appreciable area of wheat left to plant North Carolina for example 33% planted. The five year average 36%. And California 18% of the wheat planted. Five year average 27 percent." Farmers in Oregon sowed 29 percent of that states winter wheat crop just last week bringing planting up to 84 percent complete compared to 87 percent average for now. Ninety eight percent of Idaho's crop has been planted. In Washington 97 percent is sown. USDA's Rippey says nationally winter wheat crop ratings improved from last week. Rippey: "On October 30th 61% of the crop rated good to excellent. Last week 57%. A year ago though a better looking crop starting out 78 % good to excellent. Trouble spots are scattered in several areas and we do see for example three states with more than 20% of the crop rated very poor to poor. Those are Oregon at 22%, Texas with some dryness problems 26% and Arkansas 27 percent. Also dryness there as well." USDA reports that as of Monday 80 percent of the U.S. corn crop had been harvested and that's ahead of the five year average pace for now of 74 percent. . I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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