USDA rates 75% of country’s spring wheat good to excellent

The spring wheat crop in all 6 spring wheat-producing states was in mostly good shape for the week ending July 7, said USDA in its Crop Progress report released Monday, July 8. Three-fourths of all U.S. spring wheat rated good/excellent, and five out of the six spring wheat-producing states had only 5% or less wheat rated poor or worse. 

Minnesota

With 88% of its spring wheat crop rated good/excellent and just 1% rated less than fair, Minnesota had the best spring wheat in the country, according to USDA. In Monday’s report, the state’s spring wheat rated 0% very poor, 1% poor, 11% fair, 77% good, and 11% excellent.

These favorable spring wheat conditions come despite a week of heavy rain and below average temperatures for most of Minnesota, according to USDA. Substantial precipitation left topsoil moisture supplies 0% very short, 1% short, 48% adequate, and 51% surplus for the week ending July 7.

North Dakota

With 81% good/excellent spring wheat, North Dakota ranked second best among spring wheat-producing states. The specific breakdown of the state’s spring wheat condition by USDA was 1% very poor, 2% poor, 16% fair, 67% good, and 14% excellent.

Mostly adequate soil moisture supplies played a role in the state’s high percentage of good-to-excellent wheat. According to USDA, topsoil moisture supplies for North Dakota rated 0% very short, 3% short, 77% adequate, and 20% surplus for the week ending July 7. 

South Dakota

Coming in third for best-rated spring wheat was South Dakota, with 75% of its spring wheat crop in good/excellent condition. According to USDA, the state’s spring wheat rated as follows: 0% very poor, 2% poor, 23% fair, 69% good, and 6% excellent. 

Like its northern neighbor, South Dakota’s soil moisture supplies were favorable for its high-quality spring wheat. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1% very short, 5% short, 76% adequate, and 18% surplus for the week ending July 7, said USDA.

Idaho

Wheat in good/excellent shape for the remaining three spring wheat-producing states fell below the country’s average of 75%, beginning with Idaho. For the week ending July 7, 67% of Idaho’s spring wheat was in good/excellent shape. Overall, USDA rated 0% of the state’s spring wheat very poor, 4% poor, 29% fair, 64% good, and 3% excellent. 

Montana

For Montana, 65% of the state’s spring wheat crop rated good/excellent as of July 7. The specific condition breakdown reported by USDA was as follows: 0% very poor, 5% poor, 30% fair, 59% good, and 6% excellent. 

Washington

Of the six spring wheat-producing states, Washington had the worst wheat conditions reported by USDA: Just 56% of the state’s spring wheat rated good/excellent. As of July 7, 10% of the state’s spring wheat rated very poor (2%) or poor (8%). Otherwise, 34% of the crop was in fair condition, 47% of the crop was in good condition, and 9% of the crop was in excellent condition.