Winter wheat drought footprint shrinks a little more

Based on U.S. Drought Monitor data as of May 17, 66% of the U.S. winter wheat crop area was experiencing drought, down two percentage points from the previous week. That was down one percentage point from the previous week. USDA classified the drought as 18% “moderate,” 22% “severe,” 21% “extreme” and 5% “exceptional.”

Across HRW areas, dryness/drought covers 90% of Texas (up a point from the previous week), 61% of Oklahoma (up a point), 72% of Kansas (unchanged), 100% of Colorado (unchanged), 98% of Nebraska (unchanged), 73% of South Dakota (down three points) and 95% of Montana (up two points).

Drought monitor commentary noted: “Drought or abnormal dryness contracted in the few areas in Texas and Oklahoma where more than an inch of rain fell on Dx [drought] areas. But abnormal dryness and moderate to exceptional drought expanded in many more areas of Texas. Moderate to exceptional drought expanded in Colorado, extreme to exceptional drought expanded in Kansas, extreme drought expanded in Nebraska, and abnormal dryness expanded in western Montana.”

For other crops, USDA estimates the drought footprint at 21% for corn (unchanged from the previous week), 12% for soybeans (unchanged), 31% for spring wheat (down four points) and 56% for cotton (unchanged).

Click here to view USDA's report on crops in drought.