US winter wheat ratings seen rising after rains, analysts say
By Karl Plume
CHICAGO, Nov 18 (Reuters) -U.S. winter wheat crop conditions have likely improved over the past week following much-needed rain in the Plains farm belt, according to analysts surveyed by Reuters ahead of a weekly U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report on Monday.
The improving prospects for the recently planted crop may soothe concerns about the harvest potential in the world's No. 5 exporter of the staple food grain.
The USDA was expected to rate 46% of the winter wheat crop in good to excellent condition as of Sunday, up from 44% the previous week, according to the average estimate from 10 analysts. Estimates ranged from 43% to 49% good-to-excellent.
Analysts on average also expected the USDA to report planting of the winter wheat crop as 95% complete, up from 91% a week earlier. The government is scheduled to publish its crop progress report at 3 p.m. CST (2100 GMT) on Monday.
Rain and snow over the past two weeks has recharged soil moisture in many areas of the Plains, where widespread drought had clouded crop prospects earlier in the planting season.
Just 43% of U.S. winter wheat production area remained under moderate drought or worse as of Nov. 12, down from 62% two weeks earlier, according to the latest data from the USDA and the National Drought Mitigation Center.
All figures in percent:
Category | Analyst average | Analyst range | USDA last week |
Winter wheat planted (%) | 95 | 94-96 | 91 |
Winter wheat condition ratings* | 46 | 43-49 | 44 |
*% good/excellent |
Reporting by Karl Plume; editing by David Evans
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