The growth of this year's winter wheat crop is slightly behind compared to last year thanks to freezing temperatures and wet conditions in October.

According to Gary Mayfield, area manager for Beachner Grain, because of the limited amount of moisture and cold weather the local winter wheat has been kept dormant.

“Normally by now the winter wheat is up and growing,” he said.

Mayfield said the wheat is usually green this time of year but it is still looking brown. This, he said, is due in part to late planting because the land was too wet in October and November. Some planting had to be done as late as the first of December, Mayfield said.

He said it is slightly dryer this year than last year, but added that wheat likes dry weather. He also said even though last year's winter wheat crop was good, it is still too early to tell how this year's crop will do.

Mayfield said he will know more in the latter part of March and harvest will likely be in June.

Source - http://www.miamiok.com/