11/03/05 Winter wheat planting

USDA says farmers have nearly completed the winter wheat planting for this year. As of the end of October 92 percent of the crop has been planted nationally. In Idaho 98 percent of the crop is in the ground. Washington has 97 percent sown and Oregon was up to 84 percent. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says Mother Nature is helping Idaho and the Northwest. RIPPEY "Developing wet weather pattern is beneficial for winter grains so we'll look for that to continue for much of the week across the Northern Rockies, the Northwest including some of the wheat areas in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and even Montana." While Idaho gets rain other parts of the nation aren't as lucky as they try to get wheat established. RIPPEY "A couple of areas of focus, especially South Dakota has been dry not just in October but the last couple of months so there's limited moisture there for establishment. Other areas further south that's a concern is North Texas and surrounding areas there 22 percent of Oregon's wheat crop is rated very poor to poor. Texas and Arkansas both said more than one quarter of their crop was in that same class. At the end of October 61 percent of the wheat crop was rated good to excellent. One year ago the crop started out as 78 percent good to excellent. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott