July 8, 2025

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Spring wheat crop development in North Dakota continues to progress at a slightly above average pace.  About 60% of the crop has headed out, compared to 52% on average.  With much of the crop entering the flowering stage, producers are closely monitoring disease pressure, specifically Fusarium Headblight (scab) risk.  With the recent wet weather in many growing areas and higher humidity levels, scab risk models show elevated scab risk for susceptible varieties in portions of the state, while risk for resistant varieties remains relatively low at this time.  Overall, the state’s spring wheat crop is in mostly good condition, but crop condition ratings are lower than last year and dropped slightly from last week.  In North Dakota 68% is rated in good to excellent conditions.  Condition of the crop is variable across the state with some damage and stress seen from a variety of factors including hail, excess moisture, nutrient deficiencies and drought and heat stress.  Overall, producers remain relatively optimistic about the crop if disease pressure remains manageable and moisture is received in drier areas – particularly the norther tier of the state.

Across the region, 61% of the total spring wheat crop has headed out, near average.  Condition ratings vary by state.  The Minnesota crop is rated high with 80% in the good to excellent categories and just over half of the South Dakota crop is in the top two categories.  Conditions are drastically different in Montana where dry conditions have stressed the crop.  Only 2% of the Montana crop is in good to excellent condition and 37% is in poor to very poor condition.

The durum crop in North Dakota is considered to be in mostly good condition.  Just over half of the crop has headed out, ahead of average.  The most recent USDA/NASS crop progress report indicates about 78% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, similar to last year.  Producers report good crop conditions, but many of the northern durum producing areas are in need of precipitation soon to maintain crop potential.  Conditions are drastically different in Montana where the crop has been stressed by dry conditions.  In that state 2% is rated good, 54% fair, and 44% poor to very poor.