Colder-than-usual weather “is likely to spur further concerns over the condition of the winter wheat crop” in Russia, says The Crop Site. It points to uncertainties about the state of the crop. Half of Russia’s wheat crop usually comes from winter wheat. Separately, Black Sea farm operator Agrokultura said 20 percent of its winter wheat “emerged in a poor state” amid an extended dry spell in Russia’s Central Black Soil region, said AgriMoney. It quoted U.S. broker CHS Hedging as saying, “Heading into winter, the Russian wheat crop is struggling to germinate in unseasonably dry regions.”
The U.S. winter wheat crop, with emergence slightly ahead of normal at 67 percent, is off to a poor start. USDA says 59 percent of the crop is in good or excellent condition, compared to 61 percent a year ago for a crop that suffered from drought. Winter wheat is planted in the fall, goes dormant during the winter and is harvested in the late spring.