For farmers and their customers, there is a timeless value in knowing that another wheat harvest is underway. USW Harvest Reports are an excellent way to read weekly updates and comments on harvest progress, crop conditions and crop quality for hard red winter (HRW), soft red winter (SRW), hard red spring (HRS), soft white (SW) and durum wheat. USW posted its first report on the 2015/16 crop on May 28.
A lengthy period of rain in the southern and central plains, and cooler than normal temperatures has delayed the HRW harvest and provided favorable conditions for plant disease development. While it is too early to identify what impact that might have, Harvest Reports provide timely information wheat buyers will need this year. The long-range weather forecast shows little chance of rain, so the harvest pace should pick up. Generally, the rain helped improve the potential supply of this year’s crop and provided desperately needed moisture after several years of drought .
According to USDA’s latest National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report, all winter wheat (HRW, SRW, SW) is in better condition this year compared to the 2014/15 crop on this date last year. Late last week, NASS rated about 44 percent of this year’s winter wheat crop as good or excellent compared to 30 percent last year. Comparing poor to very poor ratings, this crop stood at 20 percent compared to 44 percent on this date last year.
Looking further ahead, NASS reported that by May 31, 91 percent of the 2015/16 U.S. spring wheat crop was up and growing. That is well ahead of last year when just 64 percent had emerged and beats the five-year average by nearly 30 percentage points. Early planting reflected dry and relatively warm conditions this spring. A colder weather pattern set in a few weeks ago, but 88 percent of the crop currently rates as fair to good with 8 percent rated excellent.
The global demand for high quality wheat continues to grow and customers know that U.S. wheat producers deliver every year. It is good to know that U.S. wheat stocks are plentiful; yield potential is generally at or above average and U.S. wheat value remains high.
Source : USwheat