First Crop Progress Report of Season Shows Winter Wheat Conditions above Last Year

April 7, 2020

U.S. winter wheat is starting off the 2020 growing season with a good-to-excellent condition rating slightly above last year, according to USDA's first weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

For the week ended April 5, 2020, winter wheat was rated 62% in good-to-excellent condition, up slightly from 60% at the same time last year. Nine percent of the crop was rated poor to very poor, the same as last year.

Top winter-wheat-producing state Kansas reported 49% of its crop in good-to-excellent condition, slightly below 55% at the same time last year. Good-to-excellent ratings in Washington and Oklahoma -- last year's other two top producers -- were 82% and 73%, respectively.

For the other crops USDA included in its report this week, planting was progressing at a near- to above-average pace. Sorghum was 15% planted, compared to 14% last year and a 13% five-year average. Cotton planting was 7% complete, compared to 5% last year and a 5% average. Rice was 17% planted, compared to 17% last year and a 19% average.

Oats were 26% planted as of April 5, compared to 26% last year and a 29% average. Emergence was at 24%, compared to 25% last year and a 25% average.

"Topsoil moisture surplus numbers are interesting with Arkansas leading at 70%," said DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman. "North Dakota's surplus topsoil moisture was at 43%, Minnesota's was 47%, Wisconsin's was 38% and Michigan's was 44%.

Source: DTN