Winter wheat jointing well behind last year

For the week ending April 29, there were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Northern Plains Regional Field Office, Kansas. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 27 percent very short, 32 short, 40 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 27 percent very short, 38 short, 35 adequate, and 0 surplus.

Winter wheat condition rated 16 percent very poor, 34 poor, 37 fair, 12 good, and 1 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 52 percent, well behind 89 last year and 77 for the five-year average. Headed was 2 percent, well behind 41 last year and 24 average.

Corn planted was 27 percent, behind 36 last year and 35 average. Emerged was 6 percent, behind 11 last year and 14 average.

Soybeans planted was 2 percent, equal to both last year and average.

(Note: District-level estimates for sorghum, days suitable for fieldwork, and topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies will not be published in 2018 due to lack of external funding.)