Upper Midwest winter wheat lacks snow but still OK

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- The lack of snow in the Upper Midwest is causing some
concern among winter wheat farmers.
   Recent Agriculture Department reports rate the protective snow cover for the
winter wheat crop as 80 percent poor in North Dakota, 87 percent poor in South
Dakota and 87 percent poor or very poor in Montana.
   South Dakota Wheat Growers sales manager Ryan Schuchhardt says
"my gut tells me we're in trouble."
   North Dakota State University agronomist Joel Ransom says recent crop sampling
hasn't turned up much damage. But he says cold snaps next month could be
damaging.
   Even if there's widespread damage to the region's winter wheat crop it isn't
likely to impact grain markets. Upper Midwest states this season account for
only about 10 percent of U.S. winter wheat acres.
   AP-WF-02-20-12 1204GMT