Spring Wheat Harvest Accelerates Past Halfway Mark

The U.S. spring wheat harvest accelerated sharply this past week, while crop condition ratings slipped slightly. 

Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the national spring wheat harvest at 62% complete as of Sunday, up 21 points from a week earlier. Progress was also well ahead of the 51% harvested at the same point last year and the five-year average of 52%. 

South Dakota remained furthest along, with 91% of its spring wheat crop harvested, up from 81% a week earlier and ahead of the 85% average. Minnesota reached 78% complete, up from 63%. North Dakota, the largest U.S. spring wheat-producing state, made strong progress as well, with 56% of the crop harvested, up from 37% the previous week and ahead of the five-year average of 40%. Montana harvest reached 55%, nearly doubling from 28% a week earlier, although progress remained slightly behind the 60% average. 

Meanwhile, national spring wheat condition ratings weakened modestly. The USDA rated 51% of the crop good to excellent as of Sunday, down 1 point from a week earlier. That remained above the 49% rated good to excellent at the same time last year. 

Minnesota continued to have the strongest crop, with 91% rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. Montana improved to 54% good to excellent from 47%. Conditions weakened in North Dakota, where 39% of the crop was rated good to excellent, down from 44% a week earlier. South Dakota also slipped, falling to 42% from 45%.