credited by  Mariah Squire

Last year, six states planted 100% of the country’s spring wheat acreage. In the Crop Progress Report released Monday, USDA said that 47% of the country’s total spring wheat is planted and 12% is out of the ground.

Washington

According to USDA’s Prospective Plantings report released March 28, Washington farmers are expected to plant 475,000 acres of spring wheat this growing season.
 

In the Crop Progress report released Monday, USDA said 90% of Washington’s expected spring wheat crop had been planted as of the week ending May 5. Thanks in part to 6 days suitable for fieldwork, the total planted spring wheat increased 14 percentage points from the week prior. Last year at this time 85% of spring wheat had been planted. The five-year average is 84%.
 

In terms of spring wheat emergence, Monday’s report said that 54% of the state’s spring wheat crop had emerged, which is a 16 point increase from 38% the week prior. That’s also a boost from 48% last year at this time. The five-year average is 54%.
 

Idaho

USDA predicted farmers in Idaho to plant 410,000 acres of spring wheat this year.

As of the week ending May 5, 82% of Idaho’s spring wheat crop had been planted, an increase of 10 points since the week prior. Despite experiencing cool, wet, and windy conditions throughout the state during the week, Idaho’s spring wheat planting is ahead of schedule. Only 58% was planted at this time last year. The five-year average is 73%.
 

Idaho’s spring wheat emergence rose to 51%, supported by mostly adequate (≥80%) soil moisture according to USDA. That’s quite a jump from the 30% emergence reported the week prior and the 31% reported last year at this time. The state’s current spring wheat emergence is also far exceeding the five-year average of 32%.

South Dakota

South Dakota farmers are anticipated to contribute 850,000 acres of spring wheat to the country’s total spring wheat crop this season.
 

In South Dakota, 79% of the spring wheat is in the ground. For the week ending May 5, there were only 2.1 days suitable for fieldwork, said USDA. Nevertheless, the spring wheat planted in the state increased 17% compared to the week prior. Spring wheat planting in South Dakota is considerably ahead of schedule compared to 45% a year ago and to the five-year average of 54%. 
 

As for emergence, USDA said Monday that 31% of the state’s spring wheat had emerged. That’s up from 10% the week prior and 6% a year ago. The state is exceeding the five-year emergence average by 10%. Relatively high spring wheat emergence for the state was supported by mostly adequate (≥75%) soil moisture supplies during the week, as reported by USDA.
 

Montana

USDA said in March that Montana farmers are expected to plant 2.7 million acres of spring wheat this year.
 

According to USDA, 52% of Montana’s expected spring wheat crop is in the ground. That is up 17 points since last week and is double the percentage of spring wheat planted last year at this time. Planting in the state is also a good deal ahead of the five-year average of 36%. 
 

In Monday’s Crop Progress report, USDA said that 3% of Montana’s spring wheat had emerged and is the first reported of the season. According to USDA, all of Montana experienced below-normal temperatures during the week ending May 5. That may help to explain why the state is behind its five-year emergence average of 8%.

Minnesota

According to USDA, Minnesota farmers are predicted to plant 1.6 million acres of spring wheat this growing season.
 

USDA said Monday that during the week ending May 5, Minnesota experienced enough rain to result in only 1.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Despite this, USDA said Monday that 51% of Minnesota’s spring wheat had been planted, which is a 3 point increase since the week prior and is over double the five-year average of 25%. Last year at this time only 5% of the state’s spring wheat had been planted.

North Dakota

Farmers in North Dakota are expected to plant 5.3 million acres of spring wheat in 2024. 
 

Monday’s USDA report said that 32% of North Dakota’s spring wheat had been planted as of the week ending May 5. That’s an increase of 12 points compared to the week prior despite there being only 2.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week according to USDA. Last year at this time, only 9% of the state’s spring wheat had been planted, while the five-year average is 20%. 
 

North Dakota’s spring wheat emergence was 5% as of May 5, said USDA. That’s an increase from just 1% reported the week prior. At this time last year there was no spring wheat emergence for the state. However, the five-year average is 3%. 
 

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As of May 5, 18% of the state’s spring wheat crop had emerged. That’s up from just 5% last week. It’s also considerably higher than last year at this time (no emergence) and the five-year average of 8%.