Crop ratings for winter wheat improved in some states in yesterday’s weekly reports, but the largest wheat producer Kansas is still struggling. Kansas wheat improved just 1-percent in the good to excellent rating, but increased 9-percent in the poor to very poor category. National Association of Wheat Growers President Gordon Stoner says the crop prospects don’t look good with the continued dry weather in the Southern Plains and the rest of wheat country.
Even though crop ratings improved slightly in Oklahoma and Texas, ratings overall are the lowest in years. Stoner says as a result, it is already too late for many acres and they will be torn up.
Wheat acreage has been on a steady decline for many years and USDA is projecting the lowest acres in more than 100-years again for 2018.
USDA is projecting 2018 wheat acres in the U.S. at 46.5 million acres.
