04/12/06 Slow start to spring planting

04/12/06 Slow start to spring planting

Farm and Ranch April 12, 2006 Planting of the U.S. spring wheat crop is off to a slow start. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey explains the reasons why. Rippey: "By wet weather across the interior Northwest and the northern Plains and flooding in the Red River Valley." Nationally, four percent of the nation's spring wheat had been planted to start this week. The five year average pace for now is seven percent. While Washington farmers have sown 39 percent of their spring wheat, that's well behind the five year average of 56 percent. Oregon growers would normally have about three-quarters of their spring wheat seeded by now, but only have just over half in the ground. Spring wheat planting is seven percent complete in Idaho, which compares to the five year average of 32 percent. It's a similar story for barley in the region and nation too. Seeding of the U.S corn crop is three percent complete, just a point behind average. Potato planting in Washington is 30 percent complete which is about four points ahead of average. In Idaho, one percent of the spud crop has been sown, the same as last year at this time but a couple of points behind the five year average. At only nine percent complete, sugar beet planting in Idaho is well behind the five year average pace of 40%. USDA's Rippey says recent moisture in the Plains had the nation's winter wheat crop did showing an improvement in condition ratings this week. It's now 41 percent good to excellent and 30 percent very poor to poor. Rippey: "really a far cry from last year at this time when the winter wheat crop was 70% good to excellent and just six percent very poor to poor." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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