CHICAGO (Reuters) – Dry weather continued to eat away at the condition of the recently seeded U.S. winter wheat crop, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Nov. 8.
USDA rated the winter wheat crop 45 percent good to excellent as of Nov. 7, the lowest ratings for early November since a 44 percent reading in 1990.
A week ago, the crop was rated 46 percent good to excellent.
Wheat prices rose nearly five percent last week at the Chicago Board of Trade amid growing concerns about dry weather hampering crop development.
The dry weather was also allowing farmers to maintain their record fast pace in this year’s corn harvest.
Corn harvest was 96 percent complete, up five percentage points from the previous week.
A year ago, farmers had completed 35 percent of their corn harvest as muddy conditions prevented them from running combines through the fields.
