The condition of U.S. winter wheat is deteriorating as it breaks dormancy and needs more moisture to grow. As the temperatures increase the wheat begins to grow but without the needed moisture the crop is becoming stressed. In parts of Kansas, the country’s biggest wheat producing state, the conditions have killed off areas of the crop. Overall, currently 34% of the Kansas wheat crop is rated in good condition compared to 37% a week earlier. In Oklahoma, 18% of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition down from 22% a week earlier. In Texas 13% of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition down from 28% the previous week, and the amount of Texas wheat rated poor to very poor jumped to 52% from 31% the previous week. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that 43% of Kansas and 31% of Oklahoma were in severe drought and 14% of the Oklahoma crop has reached the jointing stage when moisture is critical. As the crop as a whole passes the jointing stage and enters the reproductive growth, the lack of moisture can cause the loss of bushels per acre.
To receive relevant news stories with summaries provided by GAI Research & Insight, subscribe to Global AgDevelopments, our free bi-weekly enhanced eNews service