(Photo: WBOC)
EASTON, Md.- Only 33 percent of the nation's winter wheat crop is in fair to excellent condition, putting the crop in its worst shape in 26 years.
Farmer Greg Gannon said number should rise above 50 percent and the sweltering summer is to blame.
"The lingering effect of the drought this summer that's just drying too many of the wheat growing areas," Gannon said. "The hard winter as well as the sulfur and the market in Chicago is going up because of that. And of course they look at the global supply and how there are some problems with the crop in Argentina and Australia, which effects the worlds supply."
Despite the yellowing color you will see at this time of year on most winter wheat, farmers say the winter wheat crop is doing much better in Maryland compared to the national average.
"The winter crop is a big deal to anybody who is growing it," Gannon said.
Winter wheat is an important crop for Gannon and other farmers. He said that fortunately for him, Mother Nature is playing nice.
"This year which the wheat crop goes mostly mid-October into early November is in good shape, unless you got caught by Hurricane Sandy and didn't have it in the ground which may have affected its emergence and so forth," Gannon said. "The general statement is right here the wheat crop looks good."
