USDA has released the first look at the condition of the winter wheat crop for the 2011 season.
According to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey, weather has caused some problems for the crop in the central and southern plains:
“61% of the crop rated in very poor to poor shape in Texas, along with 53% in Oklahoma, 43% in Colorado and 34% in Kansas.”
But it’s not all bad news. Rippey says the numbers are much better in other parts of the country:
“More than 80% of the crop is rated good to excellent in several states, including California, Idaho, North Carolina, and Washington state.”
Roll it all together and Rippey says the crop condition picture isn’t great:
“37% of the crop is rated good to excellent, nationally, and 32% very poor to poor. If you compare that to last year, it’s much less favorable, because this time last year we started off the year 65% good to excellent and just 6% very poor to poor.”
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