Oat Crop to Rebound from 2006

WASHINGTON - Jul 12/07 - SNS -- Oat production in the United States is forecast at 101 million bushels, 8% above last year's record low 93.8 million bushels, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

Based on conditions as of July 1, the yield is forecast at 62.6 bushels per acre, up 3.1 bushels from 2006. Expected area to be harvested as grain or seed is 1.61 million acres, up 2% from last year. Overall, crop development has been at or ahead of normal. As of July 1, 89% of the oat acreage was headed, 1 percentage point ahead of last year and 9 points ahead of the 5-year average.

Yields are forecast to increase in States across the Great Plains, High Plains, and the upper Mississippi Valley due to favorable growing conditions. The largest increase in yield is expected in North Dakota, where the yield is forecast at 67.0 bushels per acre, up 26 bushels from last year. Lower yields are forecast in the Pacific Northwest, Ohio Valley, and New York.

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