US Winter Wheat Condition Declines Amid Drought — USDA

The condition of U.S. winter wheat at the start of the season is worse than a year ago due to ongoing dry weather. According to the USDA, only 35% of the crop is rated good to excellent, down 13 percentage points year-on-year, while the share of poor to very poor wheat has risen to 31% (+10 pp).

The main factor behind the decline is moisture deficit, with around 65% of winter wheat areas affected by some level of drought. This includes key growing regions for hard red, soft red, and white winter wheat. As the crop emerges from dormancy, it becomes increasingly sensitive to weather conditions.

As of early April, about 7% of winter wheat has headed, slightly above the five-year average of 5%, indicating somewhat faster development despite challenging conditions.

Spring planting is also underway across the U.S. Corn planting has reached 3% (compared to the 2% average), while spring wheat stands at 2% (below the usual 3%). Cotton planting is in line with normal levels at 5%, while sorghum is slightly behind at 12% versus the typical 13%.

Meanwhile, rice planting is progressing faster than usual, with 30% of the crop planted and 13% already emerged. USDA’s weekly crop progress reports will continue through November and remain a key benchmark for global agricultural markets.