Kansas Winter Wheat Rating Declines from November

The condition of the winter wheat crop in the No. 1 US production state of Kansas has weakened from the end of November. 

Monthly winter wheat condition ratings released by the USDA pegged the 2025 Kansas winter wheat crop at 47% good to excellent as of Jan. 5. That is down from the final 2024 weekly rating in November of 55%, but still 4 points higher than last year. 

The condition of the Oklahoma crop also slipped, dropping to 45% good to excellent from 48% at the end of November and well below 67% last year. The Soft Red crop in Illinois likewise went backward, dropping to 69% good to excellent from 80% in November but still above 55% a year ago. The Ohio crop fell to 57% good to excellent, versus 70% in November. 

On the other hand, the condition of the Colorado crop improved to 70% good to excellent, a gain of 2 points from November and above 61% last year. The condition of the Montana crop also moved higher from November. 

The mostly lower state-by-state ratings stand in contrast to the significant improvement the national winter wheat crop experienced in November. 

In late October, the USDA released its first winter wheat crop conditions report, rating just 38% of the 2025 American crop in good to excellent condition, the second lowest rating in records dating back to 1986, driven by a hot and dry planting season. However, much-needed rain and snow in November eventually pushed the nationwide winter wheat condition rating up to 55% good to excellent.