DROUGHT IS TAKING A TOLL ON THE NEW WINTER WHEAT CROP. GROWERS HAVE PLANTED NEARLY 69 PERCENT OF THE CROP NATIONWIDE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY SIGHTLY AHEAD OF NORMAL, AS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN GREAT FOR FIELD WORK, HOWEVER, USDA METEOROLOGIST BRAD RIPPEY:
HE SAYS THAT WHEAT EMERGENCE IS RUNNING BEHIND NORMAL
NORMALLY IT’S ABOUT 44% AT THIS TIME. HE ADDS THAT THE MARKETS ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING THE SITUATION CLOSELY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AS MANY CRITICAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY DESPERATELY NEED RAIN.
