Modest Gain in Winter Wheat Numbers

WASHINGTON - Aug 11/06 - SNS -- Winter wheat production in the United States is forecast at 1.28 billion bushels, up slightly from last month but 14% below 2005, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Area harvested for grain totals 31.1 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 8% from last year. The U.S. yield is forecast at 41.2 bushels per acre, up 0.1 bushel from July 1. Harvest progress in the 18 major producing States was 91% complete by July 30. This was 3 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of the 5-year average.

Harvest was virtually complete in all Hard Red Winter States except Montana. Yield forecasts were unchanged from last month in all States in the central and southern Great Plains except Nebraska. In Montana, crop development continued at a rapid pace due to hot and dry weather during the month of July. These weather conditions allowed harvest to progress well ahead of normal in the State.

Montana's yield forecast is 2.0 bushels above last month despite these unfavorable weather conditions. Yield forecasts in Nebraska and South Dakota are down from the previous month due to the continued affects of the drought.

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