By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Lack of moisture this fall has the Texas winter wheat crop struggling.

It’s currently rated the worst crop in the nation, according to the latest crop progress report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Nearly half, 49%, of the state’s crop is rated poor to very poor.

“Nationally, 34% of the U.S, winter wheat crop is rated poor or very poor, with 49% of the Texas winter wheat crop experiencing those same conditions,” Brant Wilbourn, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said.

Only 1% of the Texas winter wheat crop was rated excellent, 13% of the crop was ranked good and 37% was ranked fair.

USDA’s report shows about 88% of the Texas winter wheat crop has been planted and 67% has emerged.

“Texas farmers are finishing up planting winter wheat,” Wilbourn said. “The recent rains have helped the crop and field conditions, but more moisture is needed to overcome the drought conditions many have faced across the state.”

The latest report does show some improvement from the first report of the year. The report published the last week of October showed that 62% of the Lone Star State’s winter wheat crop was rated poor or very poor.

The report also shows more than a third of the winter wheat crop in the nation is rated poor or very poor.

Drought conditions continue to linger across the state. About 70% of the state is suffering from drought. But parts of Texas have rain in the forecast over the weekend, which should help crop conditions.

View the USDA Crop Progress report here.