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Good Progress for U.S. Spring Wheat Harvest
17.08.2010 12:59 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
The U. S. spring wheat harvest made good progress this past week, thanks to big gains in Minnesota and South Dakota.
According to today’s USDA crop progress report, 34% of the nationwide crop was off as of Sunday, up 14 points from a week earlier. That’s well ahead of just 13% last year but still trails the five-year average by 10 points.
In Minnesota, the harvest advanced 28 points from a week earlier to move to 75% complete as of Sunday. That compares to just 8% last year and 42% on average. The South Dakota harvest jumped 27 points to 81% complete, versus 63% last year and 80% on average.
In contrast, the harvest continues to move exceedingly slow in Montana. The harvest in that state advanced just 1 point from the previous week to 7% complete, ahead of last year’s 4% but 32 points behind average. In the main production state of North Dakota, the harvest was 27% complete as of Sunday, versus 13% the previous week, 3% last year and 38% on average.
Meanwhile, the U.S. winter wheat harvest is winding down, with 91% of the crop in the bin as of Sunday, compared to 87% a week earlier, 93% last year and 96% on average.
Wheat futures closed sharply lower today, with September Chicago down 38 3/4 cents at $6.63 3/4. September Kansas City tumbled 35 1/2 cents to $6.88 and September Minneapolis lost 32 cents to $6.82 3/4.
Profit-taking and forecasts for some rain in drought-ravaged Russia pulled the market lower. Traders indicate that there is still a high level of uncertainty over the ultimate size of the Russian grain crop as well as how long Russia grain export ban will be in effect. One analyst noted that the extent of the ban may depend on whether or not Russia sees goods rains ahead of the planting season for winter wheat.
This weeks export inspections for wheat were 20.804 million bu, up from 14.74 million last week. Inspections need to average 24.23 million bu each week to reach the USDAs export projection for 200910.
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