by Ann Courtmanche, U.S. Wheat Associates market analyst

As of October 31st, 89 percent of U.S. winter wheat acreage was planted, according to a USDA report. Acreage planted so far is slightly behind last year's 92 percent, but on par with the five-year average. Seventy-eight percent of the crop is rated good to excellent, as compared with less than half by last year at this time.

The good start to 2005 winter wheat crop can be attributed to improved soil moisture due to several weeks of rains in the Great Plains during October.

Too much rain has slowed planting in parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Missouri, putting planted acres below the five-year average seedings by this time. For example, plantings in top wheat-producing-state Kansas are 93 percent complete and 79 percent emerged, slightly behind the five-year average by this time.

"Oklahoma may see more acreage planted this year," observes Paul Jackson, an Oklahoma grower and former USW board member. "Seeding conditions overall have been really good, although some parts of the state are still too wet to plant."

Winter wheat in Oklahoma, the fourth largest wheat-producing state with 14 percent of all winter wheat area planted, is 92 percent seeded and 82 percent emerged compared to 87 percent and 73 percent respectively for the previous five-year average. Michigan and Oregon are also ahead of the previous five-year average for both wheat seeding and crop emergence.