Modest Gain in Other Spring Wheat

WASHINGTON - Aug 10/07 - SNS -- Spring wheat production other than durum in the U.S. is forecast at 500 million bushels, up slightly from July and up 9% from 2006, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

The U.S. yield is forecast at 39.3 bushels per acre, up 0.2 bushel from last month and 6.1 bushels above last year. Area harvested for grain is expected to total 12.7 million acres, down 8% from last year. Harvest in the 6 major producing States was 10% complete by July 29. This was 9 percentage points behind last year but 2 points ahead of normal.

Harvest was ahead of normal in all States except Montana. Hot, dry conditions during July caused crop conditions to decline and accelerated crop development across much of the growing area. Yield forecasts are at or below last month's level in all States except Minnesota, Oregon, and North Dakota. In the Pacific Northwest, harvest is progressing well as warm weather during the month of July promoted maturation of the crop.

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