09/20/05 Dry conditions for winter wheat seeding

Farm and Ranch September 20, 2005 The USDA reported Monday that 25 percent of the 2006 U.S. winter wheat crop had been planted to start this week. That was just slightly behind last year's pace for this time but it's ahead of the five year average of 22 percent. Regionally, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey, says dryness in the Pacific Northwest is a concern. Rippey: "And for that reason Washington state planting, even under dry conditions, is well behind the average pace. Forty percent of the winter wheat planted there on September 18th. Five year average 52 percent." Oregon's Weekly Crop Weather Bulletin reports farmers in some counties are holding off on seeding hoping for rain but so far winter wheat planting in the state is ahead of the pace for last year and the five year average with seven percent of the crop in the ground. In Idaho 22 percent of the winter wheat has been planted. That's also ahead of last year and the five year average pace for this time. In Washington some areas that did get some moisture had to reseed due to crusting of the soil. Some states made rapid planting progress last week. Rippey says farmers in Colorado, Nebraska and Montana sowed over 30 percent of their states' winter wheat crops during the week. Harvest of the U.S. corn crop is right on the long term average pace at 11 percent complete. The nation's soybean harvest is also underway with eight percent cut, slightly ahead of average. Washington reports 63 percent of its potatoes have been harvested. In Idaho 13 percent of the potato crop has been harvested, slightly behind average for now. The sugar beet harvest in Idaho is two percent complete. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.