Smaller U.S. Barley Harvest

WASHINGTON - Jul 12/16 - SNS -- This year's U.S. barley crop is forecast at 183 million bushels, down 15% from last year, according to the latest USDA crop production estimate.

Based on conditions as of July 1, the average yield for the United States is forecast at 70.9 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from last year. Area harvested for grain or seed, at 2.58 million acres, is unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 30, 2016 but down 17% from 2015.

When compared with last year, the largest yield increases are expected in Washington and Wyoming due to favorable spring weather. Wet conditions have negatively impacted the yield in Virginia. Record barley yields are expected in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Generally dry spring weather and timely rains facilitated beneficial conditions for planting and the development of barley in 2016. By June 12, 95% of the Nation's barley crop was emerged, 6 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Around 72% of the barley crop was headed by July 3, twenty-four percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Nationwide, 75% of the barley crop was rated in the good to excellent categories on July 3, two percentage points better than at the same time last year.

Barley Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2015 and
Forecasted July 1, 2016
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                :   Area harvested    :   Yield per acre    :     Production
                :-----------------------------------------------------------------
      State     :   2015   :   2016   :   2015   :   2016   :   2015   :   2016
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                :     1,000 acres        ---- bushels ---        1,000 bushels
                :
Arizona ........:     16         15      120.0      125.0       1,920      1,875
California .....:     25         30       55.0       50.0       1,375      1,500
Colorado .......:     63         57      130.0      135.0       8,190      7,695
Idaho ..........:    550        560       97.0       95.0      53,350     53,200
Minnesota ......:    120         75       77.0       53.0       9,240      3,975
Montana ........:    850        770       52.0       55.0      44,200     42,350
North Dakota ...:  1,050        700       64.0       62.0      67,200     43,400
Virginia .......:     16         18       75.0       64.0       1,200      1,152
Washington .....:    100        110       48.0       66.0       4,800      7,260
Wyoming ........:     86         81       95.0      107.0       8,170      8,667
                :
Other States 1/ :    233        162       62.9       72.2      14,652     11,697
                :
United States ..:  3,109      2,578       68.9       70.9     214,297    182,771
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1/ For 2015, Other States include: Delaware, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
   New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and
   Wisconsin.  For 2016, Other States include: Delaware, Maryland, Oregon,
   Pennsylvania, and Utah.  Individual State level estimates will be published in
   the "Small Grains 2016 Summary."