MANDAN, N.D. — Producers in spring wheat country were happy to see precipitation over the weekend. Many areas received an inch to two inches with isolated areas seeing upwards of four inches. Unfortunately, producers in some areas of central North Dakota and southeastern North Dakota received only limited rainfall. While the precipitation is a relief and will help recently planted crops germinate and emerge, consistent moisture will be needed to bring the crop through the growing season. While topsoil moisture conditions improved over the last week, most of the state is still considered to be in a moderate to extreme drought situation. Topsoil moisture conditions are now rated 66% short to very short and 34% adequate to surplus, compared to 80% short to very short last week and 20% adequate. Subsoil moisture levels remain dry.
Planting of the spring wheat crop is nearing completion with about 94% of the U.S. crop planted. Small amounts of acreage remain to be planted in Montana and North Dakota. The majority of the seeding should be finished this week. Some producers were waiting on moisture to finish planting the crop. Across the region, about two-thirds of the spring wheat has emerged. In North Dakota, just under 60% has emerged. Producers continue to report delayed emergence, spotty emergence and uneven stands in crop areas that were extremely dry. The recent rains should help with this situation, although they may have come too late for some of the earlier planted fields. This week’s USDA Crop Progress report included condition ratings for spring wheat. The U.S. crop is rated 45% good to excellent, lower than normal for the crop at this stage of development. In North Dakota, only 31% was rated good to excellent, 50% fair, and 19% poor to very poor. Hopefully the recent moisture will help improve crop conditions.
Much of the northern durum region saw precipitation over the weekend which was desperately needed. Many areas of the durum producing region saw totals of an inch to over two inches. In North Dakota about 78% of the durum has been planted, slightly ahead of average and about a third of the crop had emerged – near average. Producers have continued to report uneven emergence and slow emergence in their durum fields. The recent rains should help with that situation and improve crop development prospects, but in some cases, it may have come too late – time will tell.
| Wheat Planted by State | 5/23/21 | Last Week | Last Year | 5 yr. Avg |
| ND Spring | 94 | 84 | 66 | 82 |
| ND Durum | 78 | 57 | 67 | 73 |
| Minnesota | 100 | 99 | 84 | 90 |
| Montana | 87 | 71 | 90 | 85 |
| South Dakota | 99 | 97 | 96 | 93 |
| U.S. | 94 | 85 | 78 | 85 |
As of May 23, 2021
| Wheat Emerged by State | 5/23/21 | Last Week | Last Year | 5 yr. Avg |
| ND Spring | 58 | 36 | 29 | 49 |
| ND Durum | 34 | 17 | 28 | 37 |
| Minnesota | 93 | 84 | 48 | 62 |
| Montana | 58 | 34 | 68 | 54 |
| South Dakota | 87 | 76 | 73 | 75 |
| U.S. | 66 | 47 | 48 | 56 |
As of May 23, 2021
| Crop Condition by State | Very Poor | Poor | Fair | Good | Excellent | Overall |
| ND Spring | 4 | 15 | 50 | 28 | 3 | 311 |
| ND Durum | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 16 | 68 | 16 | 400 |
| Montana | 0 | 8 | 30 | 59 | 3 | 357 |
| South Dakota | 2 | 8 | 43 | 47 | 0 | 335 |
| U.S. | 2 | 12 | 41 | 41 | 4 | 333 |
— North Dakota Wheat Commission
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