South Dakota’s winter wheat crop is in fairly good condition, despite this week’s cold snap, the overall lack of snow cover and the expanding drought areas in the state. South Dakota Wheat Commission Executive Director Reid Christopherson says even though NASS had only 18-percent of the crop rated good to excellent on the last condition score of the year, producers are reporting the wheat still looks good.
This week’s snow will help insulate the crop from the bitterly cold temperatures that accompanied this weather system. And so, he says spring weather conditions will have more of an impact on the outcome of the winter wheat crop.
Christopherson says the biggest winter kill concern lies with the late planted winter wheat that went into stubble ground.
Christopherson says the U.S. Drought Monitor continues to show mild to severe drought in a large area of the state and region, which is a concern. However, the crop is in dormancy and with normal spring rains still has potential.
