The 2026 U.S. spring wheat crop improved over the past week but remained slightly below a year ago, while the winter wheat harvest moved ahead quickly and crop ratings remained historically poor.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report rated the national spring wheat crop at 52% good to excellent as of Sunday, up 5 points from the previous week but still a single point below last year.
In North Dakota, the largest spring wheat-producing state, the crop was rated 61% good to excellent, up 3 points from a week earlier. Minnesota improved to 86% good to excellent, up from 78% the previous week. South Dakota rose to 52%, compared with 44% the previous week, while Montana remained under heavy stress at just 10% good to excellent, although that was an improvement from only 1% a week earlier.
Spring wheat development continued to advance. Planting was 98% complete, up from 94% a week earlier and ahead of the five-year average of 95%. Emergence reached 87%, up from 72% the previous week and ahead of both last year and the average.
The winter wheat harvest was 11% complete, more than doubling from 5% a week earlier and running ahead of 4% last year and the 6% average. Oklahoma led the Plains at 44% harvested, well ahead of 5% last year and 18% on average. Texas was 35% complete, slightly behind its 36% average, while Arkansas reached 35%.
Winter wheat conditions remained poor, with only 25% of the crop rated good to excellent, down 1 point on the week and far below 54% a year earlier. Kansas was unchanged at just 14% good to excellent, while Oklahoma slipped to 9% and Texas held at 12%.
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