Slippage in Spring Wheat Numbers

WASHINGTON - Aug 11/06 - SNS -- Spring wheat production other than durum is forecast at 464 million bushels, down slightly from last month and 8% below 2005, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Area harvested for grain totals 14.2 million acres, unchanged from last month but up 4% from last year. The U.S. yield is forecast at 32.7 bushels per acre, 0.2 bushel less than last month and down 4.4 bushels from 2005. Harvest progress in the six major producing States was 22% complete by July 30. This was 15 percentage points ahead of last year and 16 points ahead of the normal.

Harvest progress was ahead of normal in all States except Washington and Oregon, due to hot and dry weather during the month of July. This weather caused the crop condition ratings to continue to decline and accelerated crop development across much of the growing area.

Yield forecasts are at or below last months level in all States except Minnesota and Oregon. In the Pacific Northwest, harvest is just getting underway as warm weather during the month of July promoted maturation of the crop.

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