Rains in the US Plains have bolstered winter wheat condition just as it faces the start in earnest of spring growth, with higher temperatures this week accelerate crop development.

Texas has seen an extension of the dry conditions which have undermined its winter wheat crop, of which a meagre remained 18% was rated in "good" or "excellent" condition as of Sunday, unchanged on the week.

Rainfall was "scarce" in most of the state over the week, when "high winds continued to deplete topsoil moisture", US Department of Agriculture scouts said.

However, in Oklahoma, the proportion of winter wheat rated in good or excellent health rose four points to 20%.

"Eastern Oklahoma saw significant rainfall from a storm over the weekend, topping two inches in some areas," scouts said, while crops in the western areas of the state received moisture from snowmelt and some rain on top.

"Condition ratings for all small gains and canola continue to improve."

'Started to green up'

In Kansas, the top wheat-producing state, the proportion of winter wheat rated good or excellent improved by three points to 27%, the best rating of the year.

"The Kansas wheat crop has started to green up, and operators are top-dressing fields where conditions permit," USDA scouts said.

The improvements come at the start of the week expected to see warmer conditions which will provide extra snowmelt for the northern Plains, while speeding the breaking of dormancy further south, and boosting seedlings' moisture requirements.

"Much warmer temperatures across the Plains this week will melt snow in north central areas, and will spur winter wheat spring growth in southern areas," MDA forecaster Don Keeney said.

However, the weather service added that further west "moisture remains short across the Pacific Northwest white winter wheat belt.

"Little improvement is expected there over the next 10 days."

Rain on its way?

Looking further ahead,WxRisk.com meteorologist Dave Tolleris flagged the prospect of a return to precipitation over the southern Plains later next week.

While European and GFS weather models differ over the outlook until then, both foresee "some sort of significant rain over the central and lower Plains around March 19 and 20", Mr Tolleris said.