Half of the U.S. Winter Wheat Crop Has Emerged

For the week ending Oct. 22, the USDA Crop Progress report shows that winter wheat in California has finally emerged. This means that winter wheat emergence has officially begun in all of the top 18 winter wheat-growing states. While Nebraska continues to have the highest percentage of winter wheat emerged, Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, and California have the least winter wheat out of the ground.

Nebraska Winter Wheat Progress

The report showed 89% of winter wheat in Nebraska had emerged. This is up just 5% from the previous week, and ahead of the five-year average by 6%. Last year at this time 84% of the winter wheat had emerged.

Nebraska’s winter wheat crop is just 1% away from being fully planted, at 99%, USDA reported. This is 3% ahead of the five-year average, the week prior, and last year at this time.

This means 10% of Nebraska winter wheat has been planted, but not yet emerged.

Arkansas Winter Wheat Progress

USDA reported that winter wheat emergence in Arkansas saw just a 6% growth from the previous week, with 16% of the state’s winter wheat out of the ground. This is ahead of last year at this time by 8%, however it’s behind the five-year average by 5%.

Arkansas farmers are just over a third of the way done planting their winter wheat, with 37% of the crop planted. This is ahead of last year at this time by 5%, and behind the five-year average by 5%.

This means 21% of Arkansas winter wheat has been planted, but not emerged.

XtremeAg farmer Matt Miles is still evaluating if he'll plant winter wheat on his McGehee, Arkansas, farm this year. "We have not had much over an inch of rain since Aug. 18," he says, adding coupled with low prices, he's waiting until next week to make final decision.

In a normal year, Miles says he doesn't plant any earlier than the end of October. "If we plant too early we have a chance of getting barley yellow dwarf," he says.

Missouri Winter Wheat Progress

According to the USDA Crop Progress report, Missouri winter wheat emergence jumped 10% from the previous week, to 16%. While making strides, this is 1% behind last year at this time, and 6% behind the five-year average.

In Missouri, winter wheat planting reached the halfway point, with 50% of the state’s crop in the ground. This is ahead of last year at this time by 1%, and ahead of the five-year average by 7%.

This means 34% of Missouri winter wheat has been planted, but not emerged.

North Carolina Winter Wheat Progress

In North Carolina, USDA reported 6% of winter wheat has emerged the week ending Oct. 22. North Carolina saw the smallest increase in winter wheat emerged from the previous week at just 1%. This is equal to the five-year average and behind last year at this time by 2%.

Winter wheat planted in North Carolina increased 8% from the previous week, to 17%. This is 5% behind last year at this time, and equal to the five-year average.

This means 11% of North Carolina winter wheat has been planted, but not emerged.

California Winter Wheat Progress

The report of winter wheat emergence in California was published this week, starting off at 5%, which is equal to last year at this time. However, this is 2% behind the five-year average.

California farmers planted another 10% of the winter wheat crop compared to the previous week. Total winter wheat planted in California has reached 20%, which is behind the five-year average by 1%. However, this is equal to last year this time.

This means 15% of California winter wheat has been planted, but not emerged.

Winter Wheat Progress in Other States

For the week ending Oct. 22, USDA reported North Carolina had the least amount of winter wheat emergence progress, up just 1% from the previous week. Surging 22% from the previous week, Ohio saw the greatest increase in emerged winter wheat.

In a recent XtremeAg blog, Johnny Verell, a third generation farmer from Jackson, Tennessee, says that conditions are dry as they begin planting winter wheat. “We are in desperate need of rain to help get the wheat emerged.”

Nationally, 53% of the winter wheat crop has emerged. This is equal to the five-year average, and ahead of last year at this time by 6%.

By Charmayne Hefley for Successful Farming