Farmers Struggling to Get Spring Wheat Planted

As a whole, the U.S. spring wheat crop is now about 50% planted, compared to 83% on average.

Minnesota remains significantly behind with only 11% of their spring wheat planted, while Montana and South Dakota have planted 85% and 94%, respectively.

Emergence of the U.S. crop is at 29% compared to 50% on average.

Rain last week across North Dakota ranged from .25 inch to 2-3 inches and temperatures were below average. Sunny weather, drier conditions and warmer temperatures to start off the week have producers optimistic that they might finally be able to make decent planting progress. While some producers have been able to make fairly steady progress the past few days, others are still waiting for dry ground. Planting pace thus far has been painfully slow and at least two to three weeks of cooperative weather conditions are needed for most of the state to finish planting. In some cases, fields may simply be too wet and will not get planted. The weather forecast for this week does look promising with only sporadic chances of precipitation and warmer temperatures.

This week's USDA Crop Progress report indicated that producers in North Dakota have now planted 27% of the intended spring wheat acres, up only 10% from last week and well behind last year's pace of 93% and the five-year average of 80%. About 9% of the state's planted crop has emerged.

Planting of the North Dakota durum crop has faced the same challenges as spring with very slow planting progress due to the unusually wet conditions. Only 17% of the state's durum has been put in the ground compared to 75% last year and 69% on average. Most of the durum that has been planted so far is in the southwest portion of the state where conditions have been a bit drier recently. Producers have commented that warmer, drier conditions are needed to dry fields.

In Montana, producers have made better progress due to dry weather with about two-thirds of their durum planted, which is near the average pace. In Montana, Many areas need precipitation for crop development.