USDA’s first look at the country’s best and worst spring wheat

In USDA’s Crop Progress report released Monday, spring wheat conditions were rated for the first time this growing season for the 6 spring wheat-producing states. Here’s a closer look at which states have the best and worst spring wheat at this point in the growing season.

Best: South Dakota

Spring wheat in South Dakota is the best in the country at this point. USDA reported Monday that as of June 2, 86% of South Dakota’s spring wheat was in good to excellent condition. With 8% of its spring wheat rated excellent, South Dakota was second only to Washington for the highest percentage of spring wheat in excellent condition. The specific breakdown in spring wheat ratings for South Dakota was 1% very poor, 1% poor, 12% fair, 78% good, and 8% excellent.

The favorable numbers are likely a breath of fresh air for South Dakota farmers. Last year at this time, spring wheat conditions rated 1% very poor, 1% poor, 42% fair, 48% good, and 8% excellent. That’s according to USDA’s Crop Progress report for the week ending June 4, 2023. Those numbers – including only 56% spring wheat rated good or better – ranked South Dakota’s spring wheat as second worst in the country at this time last year.

Mostly adequate soil moisture last week undoubtedly contributed to the strong showing in spring wheat conditions for South Dakota. USDA reported that for the week ending June 2, topsoil moisture supplies rated 1% very short, 6% short, 76% adequate, and 17% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies for the state rated 2% very short, 8% short, 76% adequate, and 14% surplus.

Worst: Montana

The spring wheat conditions in Montana are the worst in the country according to USDA’s ratings released Monday. Only 53% of the state’s spring wheat was rated good to excellent, and spring wheat rated excellent only contributed 1% to that total. That means nearly half the crop rated as fair or worse. The breakdown in ratings for Montana’s spring wheat crop was 0% very poor, 4% poor, 43% fair, 52% good, and 1% excellent.

Although they are indeed the worst in the country at this time, Montana’s spring wheat conditions are largely comparable to the state’s historical averages. According to USDA, the five-year average ratings are as follows: 1% very poor, 9% poor, 30% fair, 55% good, and 5% excellent. Last year’s numbers are even more similar to this year’s: 0% very poor, 1% poor, 41% fair, 57% good, and 1% excellent.

Montana’s spring wheat condition ratings come after weeks of dry conditions for the state. For the week ending June 2, topsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 44% short, 52% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 7% very short, 44% short, 48% adequate, and 1% surplus. What’s more, about 35% to 40% of the state has been experiencing moderate or worse drought conditions since at least April.

According to a drought information statement issued on April 21 by the National Weather Service, much of western, central, and southwestern Montana and portions of eastern Montana were in the D1/moderate drought category.

Further, most of the state was at least abnormally dry (D0 category) at that time. In an updated drought information statement issued on May 24, the National Weather Service said that much of western and southwestern Montana and portions of central and eastern Montana were in the D1/moderate drought category in May. Almost 60% of the state was still at least abnormally dry (D0 category).