By Andi Anderson
Ohio's winter wheat landscape for 2024 reveals a notable decline, with planted acres estimated at 550,000 acres, marking a 15% decrease from the previous year. According to Ben Torrance, State Statistician at USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office, the winter wheat planting season concluded slightly ahead of schedule in early- to mid-November after a slow start.
The reduced planted area, the crop conditions show promise, with an 80% rating of good to excellent as of November 26. This signifies a significant improvement from the same period last year when the rating stood at 58%.
On a broader scale, U.S. winter wheat planted area for the 2024 harvest is estimated at 34.4 million acres. This reflects a 6% decrease from 2023 but a 3% increase from 2022. Notably, Kansas and Texas, the two largest acreage states, are expected to witness a 7% and 8% decrease, respectively. Michigan and Utah are anticipated to hit record lows in planted area.
The seeding of the 2024 acreage began in early September, starting 2 percentage points behind the 5-year average pace. Despite the initial lag, planting progressed consistently throughout the season, reaching 81% completion by November 12. Emergence of the crop was 2 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average pace as of November 26.
As Ohio faces a reduction in winter wheat seedings, the improved crop conditions offer a positive outlook, showcasing the resilience of the agricultural landscape in adapting to variable planting conditions.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ygrek
Categories: Ohio, Crops, Wheat, Weather