Winter Wheat Estimate Slips

WASHINGTON - Jun 10/-9 - SNS -- This year's winter wheat harvest in the United States is expected to total 1.49 billion bushels, down less than 1% from the May 1 forecast and 20% below 2008, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Expected area for harvest as grain or seed totals 34.0 million acres, unchanged from May 1. Based on June 1 conditions, the U.S. yield is forecast at 43.9 bushels per acre, down 0.3 bushel from last month and 3.3 bushels less than last year.

Forecasted head counts from the objective yield survey in the 6 Hard Red Winter States (Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas) are below last year's level in Montana and Oklahoma but above in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas. Condition ratings during May declined in Kansas and Montana, improved in Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, and remained constant in Texas. Colorado and Nebraska received much needed moisture during May, while Oklahoma was adversely affected by rain and hail.

Forecasted head counts from the objective yield survey in the 3 Soft Red Winter States (Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio) are below last year's level. Condition ratings declined during May in Illinois and Missouri, but improved in Ohio. Wet weather and cool temperatures in Illinois have kept crop progress behind normal.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here