In the key grain states of Kansas and Oklahoma, the winter wheat is in significantly poorer condition than it was in late November due to adverse weather in the past month, said Reuters, which compared current ratings with a Nov. 27 report. Wheat futures prices surged by 3 percent with the “sharp cut” in ratings, said Agrimoney, “And more damage is on the cards unless enough snow hits the western Plains to protect seedlings.”
Winter wheat, which is planted in the fall, lies dormant during winter and is harvested in the spring. It accounts for the lion’s share of the U.S. wheat crop. Kansas is the No. 1 winter wheat state and often the largest wheat state overall. Oklahoma ranks second in growing winter wheat, which is used predominantly in baking bread.
In Kansas, 44 percent of winter wheat was in good or excellent condition, compared to 52 percent at the end of November, and in Oklahoma, 25 percent of the crop rated good or excellent, less than half of the 53 percent rating as November ended, said Reuters. The current ratings were drawn from USDA’s State Stories report, issued monthly during the winter. The November data came from USDA’s weekly Crop Progress report, issued during the growing season.