HRW conditions decline further in February

Most of the decline in wheat conditions in February was in top producer Kansas.

green wheat field by Lindsey Pound
green wheat field by Lindsey Pound
(Lindsey Pound)

Individual state crop conditions ratings showed further deterioration of the HRW wheat crop during February, due largely to a decline in top producer Kansas. The “good” to “excellent” ratings for HRW wheat stood at 19% in Kansas (down two points from the end of January), 36% in Oklahoma (up 19 points), 19% in Texas (up five points), 29% in Colorado (down nine points), 19% in Nebraska (down three points), 23% in South Dakota (up one point) and 21% in Montana (up five points). When the updated crop condition ratings were plugged into the weighted Pro Farmer Crop Condition Index (CCI; 0 to 500 point scale, with 500 being perfect), the HRW crop dropped 5.0 points from the end of January to a rating of 264.1. The HRW crop went into dormancy with the lowest fall CCI rating on record of 280.3.

Pro Farmer Crop Condition Index for HRW Wheat

Feb. 26, 2023

Jan. 30, 2023

Nov. 28, 2022

Kansas (39.61%*)

97.03

101.39

102.97

Oklahoma (12.81%)

34.97

34.58

37.91

Texas (7.77%)

19.35

18.42

22.53

Colorado (6.52%)

19.03

20.20

17.99

Nebraska (4.52%)

12.15

12.19

12.01

S. Dakota (4.44%)

13.37

13.06

13.10

Montana (8.42%)

26.18

26.43

29.12

HRW total

264.13

269.13

280.28

* denotes percentage of total national HRW crop production.