(NAFB.com) – To the surprise of many in the industry, the U.S. winter wheat crop is in much worse shape than they expected. Shipping News says drought has strengthened since the middle of this year throughout rural America. However, there may be a break coming as ample rains are slated for the central portion of the country during the next several days. That could mean wheat’s health struggle could be a shorter-lived issue, but it all depends on how much rain those areas receive. The most recent crop rating showed 38 percent of the winter wheat crop is in good to excellent condition, while pre-report estimates from industry analysts averaged 47 percent. Kansas, which accounts for a quarter of all U.S. winter wheat, saw its crop rating at 38 percent, two percentage points below the five-year average. Last week, around 58 percent of U.S. winter wheat areas were experiencing drought, the largest number since 2023.