USDA Crop Progress - Winter Wheat Rating Jumps 5 Points to 49% Good to Excellent as of Nov. 17

OMAHA (DTN) -- Increased moisture helped boost U.S. winter wheat conditions nationwide again last week, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Tuesday.

More precipitation is expected this week and next week, according to DTN forecasters.

WINTER WHEAT

-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting moved ahead by another 3 points to reach 94% complete nationwide as of Sunday, equal to last year's pace but 2 points behind the five-year average of 96%. Oklahoma made significant progress last week. Harvest there moved ahead 11 percentage points to reach 90% complete as of Sunday. That was still 6 points behind the state's five-year average of 96%. Kansas' crop was 99% planted, slightly ahead of the state's average of 98%.

-- Crop development: An estimated 84% of winter wheat had emerged as of Sunday, 1 point behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Top producer Kansas' crop was 91% emerged, 5 points ahead of the state's five-year average of 86%. Oklahoma's crop was 75% emerged, 12 points behind the state's five-year average of 87%. South Dakota's crop was 83% emerged, 11 points behind the state's average of 94%. Nebraska's crop was 91% emerged, 8 points behind the state's average of 99%.

-- Crop condition: An estimated 49% of winter wheat that had emerged was in good-to-excellent condition, up 5 points from 44% the previous week. That is now ahead of last year's rating of 48% good to excellent. Fifteen percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, a 3-percentage-point improvement from 18% the previous week. "Kansas' winter wheat is rated 49% good to excellent, while Oklahoma, South Dakota and Nebraska are all below 37% good to excellent," noted DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini. "Soft red wheat states of Missouri and Illinois are rated highly at 72% and 75% good to excellent."

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THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

More precipitation is on the way for much of the country this week and next week, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

"It's another week with more precipitation falling over the middle of the country," Baranick said. "A big storm started in the Southern Plains on Sunday and is quickly moving northeast into the Upper Midwest for Monday night. A big swath of heavy rain, generally in the 1- to 2-inch range, is forecast in this zone. The front to the system continues eastward on Tuesday, and heavy rain is likely to go through the Southeast, picking up on some moisture and remnants to Tropical Storm Sara to enhance the showers and thunderstorms.

"Colder air is going to filter into the region behind the system and continue showers going across the Midwest the rest of the week, especially in the east. That could lead to some snow with the heaviest amounts occurring in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota where up to 6 inches will be possible. I would not be surprised to see similar amounts around Ohio or western Pennsylvania with some lake enhancement there as well. This will all make fieldwork a little more difficult getting the last of the crop out. But it will continue to help reduce drought and build lasting soil moisture and improve water levels on local rivers and streams.

"This storm may not be the last one either. It does appear possible for another storm to move through Northern areas this weekend into early next week, possibly with more snow, and the week of Thanksgiving looks to be pretty active with several systems moving through as well."

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National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Year
	Week	Week	Year	Avg.
Winter Wheat Planted	94	91	94	96
Winter Wheat Emerged	84	76	85	84
Cotton Harvested	77	71	74	72
Sorghum Harvested	95	91	95	94

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National Crop Condition Summary
(VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent)
	This Week						Last Week						Last Year
	VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E
Winter Wheat	4	11	36	41	8		6	12	38	38	6		7	10	35	39	9