HRW wheat conditions continue to improve in March

wheat field
wheat field
(Lindsey Pound)

State-level winter wheat condition ratings signaled more general improvement in the HRW crop over the past month, despite a minor downtick in top producer Kansas. The “good” to “excellent” ratings for HRW wheat rose 12 points in Colorado (to 68%), six points in Nebraska (66%), five points in Texas (51%) and three points in Montana (48%) during March. The “good” to “excellent” ratings for HRW wheat declined four points in Kansas (53%) and two points in South Dakota (56%) over the past month. Conditions were unchanged in Oklahoma with 70% of the crop rated “good” to “excellent.”

On the weighted Pro Farmer Crop Condition Index (0 to 500-point scale, with 500 being perfect), the HRW crop improved another 1.5 points from the end of February to 351.7 and stood 28.4 points above USDA’s final national rating at the end of November.

USDA will issue its initial national winter wheat crop conditions ratings of the spring on Monday, April 1.

Pro Farmer Crop Condition Index for HRW Wheat

 

March 24, 2024

Feb. 25, 2024

Nov. 27, 2023

Kansas (39.61%*)

135.85

137.04

114.06

Oklahoma (12.81%)

47.65

47.65

44.57

Texas (7.77%)

26.65

25.49

25.56

Colorado (6.52%)

23.98

23.00

24.05

Nebraska (4.52%)

16.71

16.39

15.40

S. Dakota (4.44%)

15.63

15.68

15.37

Montana (8.42%)

29.21

29.21

32.83

HRW total

351.68

350.22

323.33


* denotes percentage of total national HRW crop production.

 

Latest News

Market Watch | April 25, 2024
Market Watch | April 25, 2024

Big weekly increase in cash wheat prices.

Midweek Cash Markets | April 24, 2024
Midweek Cash Markets | April 24, 2024

Wheat basis held relatively steady despite the big jump in cash prices.

Cold Storage Report: Mixed signals for beef, pork demand
Cold Storage Report: Mixed signals for beef, pork demand

Frozen beef stocks declined more than average during March, signaling demand remains strong. Pork inventories built contra-seasonally last month.

USDA issues interstate transport testing, reporting order for H5N1 in dairy cattle
USDA issues interstate transport testing, reporting order for H5N1 in dairy cattle

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will require testing for the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle crossing state lines. Any detection of the disease must also be reported.

After the Bell | April 24, 2024
After the Bell | April 24, 2024

After the Bell | April 24, 2024

Pro Farmer's Daily Advice Monitor
Pro Farmer's Daily Advice Monitor

Pro Farmer editors provide daily updates on advice, including if now is a good time to catch up on cash sales.