Solid Jump in Winter Wheat Crop

WASHINGTON - May 9/08 - SNS -- Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.78 billion bushels, up 17% from 2007, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Based on May 1 conditions, the U.S. yield is forecast at 44.3 bushels per acre, 2.1 bushels above last year. Expected grain area totals 40.2 million acres, up 12% from last year.

Hard Red Winter (HRW) harvested acreage is up about 6% from the previous year. Soft Red Winter (SRW) harvested acreage is estimated to be up 35% from last year. The portion of the winter wheat crop rated good to excellent on April 27, at 46%, was 10 percentage points below a year ago.

HRW harvested acreage expectations in the central and southern Great Plains are above last year's freeze and flood reduced levels, mainly due to Kansas and Oklahoma acreage which is expected to be up 9% and 29%, respectively. Texas and Colorado harvested acreage is expected to be down 11%, due to lower planted acreage and dry conditions.

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