Conditions of this year's winter wheat crop are continuing to decline. According to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey, only 45% of the nation's wheat crop is ranked in good to excellent shape and 19% is judged in poor to very poor condition.

"A week ago those numbers were 49% and 16% respectively, a year ago looking much better at 57% good to excellent and just 9% poor to very poor," Rippey says. "Texas once again kind of the poster child for poor wheat at this point; we are looking at 47% of the crop rated poor to very poor."

In addition to a decline in crop condition, emergence is running about 5% behind average.

"The big problem remains the southern and western parts of the Great Plains where we see significant issues due to the dryness that has developed this fall," Rippey says.

Currently the Northwest is looking the best as conditions continue to improve in that area.