U.S. winter wheat drought area unchanged

The amount of U.S. winter wheat considered in drought conditions stayed at 73% for the week ended March 8, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. USDA rated winter wheat drought as 19% “moderate,” 33% “severe,” 18% “extreme,” and 3% “exceptional." Last week, USDA said winter wheat drought was 22% “moderate,” 32% “severe,” 18% “extreme,” and 1% “exceptional.”

For HRW areas, the area considered abnormally dry/drought in Kansas dropped one point from the previous week to 99%. Texas had 96% of its area considered abnormally dry/drought, up three points. Montana decreased the area classified as abnormally dry/drought by three points to 89%. The amount of land classified as abnormally dry/drought in Oklahoma (92%), Nebraska (100%), South Dakota (82%) and Colorado (100%) remained the same.

In SRW areas, the abnormally dry/drought area in North Carolina increased by 15 points to 66%. Illinois had 28% of its area classified as abnormally dry/drought, up four points. Missouri decreased five points to 36%. Michigan (53%), Arkansas (41%), Ohio (0%) and Indiana (0%) had the same percentage of area considered abnormally dry/drought as the previous week.