USDA Lowers Total Wheat Estimate

WASHINGTON - Aug 10/07 - SNS -- All wheat production in the U,S. is forecast at 2.11 billion bushels, is down 1% from the July forecast but up 17% from 2006, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Based on August 1 conditions, the U.S. yield is forecast at 40.6 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushel from last month but 1.9 bushels above last year.

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.54 billion bushels. This is down 2% from last month but 18% above 2006. The U.S. yield is forecast at 41.3 bushels per acre, down 0.3 bushel from last month and down 0.4 bushel from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain totals 37.2 million acres, down 1% from last month but up 20% from last year.

Hard Red Winter, at 948 million bushels, is down 2% from a month ago. Soft Red Winter, at 360 million bushels, is down 1% from the last forecast. White Winter is down 2% from last month and now totals 230 million bushels. Of this total, 17.8 million bushels are Hard White and 212 million bushels are Soft White.

Durum wheat production is forecast at 76.7 million bushels, down 3% from July but up 43% from 2006. The U.S. yield is forecast at 35.5 bushels per acre, down 0.9 bushel from last month but 6.0 bushels above last year. Expected area to be harvested for grain totals 2.16 million acres, unchanged from last month but up 19% from last year.

Other Spring wheat production is forecast at 500 million bushels, up slightly from last month and 9% above 2006. Area harvested for grain totals 12.7 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 8% from last year. The U.S. yield is forecast at 39.3 bushels per acre, 0.2 bushel above last month and 6.1 bushels above 2006. Of the total production, 473 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, up less than 1% from last month.

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