US Plains HRW wheat bids steady

Bids for hard red winter wheat in the US Plains were steady on Tuesday in a lacklustre market. Protein premiums fell 2 to 5 cents for mid-protein levels and rose 5 cents for 13.40- and 13.60-percent protein wheat supplies. Unusually warm, dry and windy January weather in top US winter wheat producer Kansas has decreased soil moisture and hurt winter wheat conditions, agricultural officials said in a report issued Monday afternoon.
The Kansas wheat crop was rated 12 percent poor to very poor as of Sunday, 39 percent fair and 49 percent good to excellent. Texas winter wheat was rated 26 percent good to excellent as of Sunday, 36 percent of the crop was rated fair and 38 percent was rated poor to very poor, according to the Texas Agricultural Statistics Service. Winter wheat was in need of additional moisture in the High Plains of Texas, the service said. In the Northern High Plains, early planted wheat failed due to continued, unfavourable growing conditions. In the Southern High Plains, there were some reports of damage from flocks of geese feeding in fields as well as blowing sands.