Hard Red Spring Wheat Harvest Officially Begins

Harvest of the U.S. hard red spring wheat crop has officially begun. Reports indicate that about 6 percent of the crop has been harvested in South Dakota, ahead of last year, but down from the five-year average of 17 percent. Harvest has also begun in Minnesota with one percent of the crop harvested. Temperatures across the region were mostly below to near average last week, with scattered rain showers, some severe with hail and damaging winds. The U.S. crop is now 94 percent headed out; the crop is furthest behind in Montana where only 79 percent has headed out compared to an average of 95 percent. Percent of the crop turning color ranges from 10 percent in Montana to 93 percent in South Dakota. Crop development continues to be behind in every state except Minnesota.