Bigger U.S. Durum Crop

WASHINGTON - Aug 12/16 - SNS -- Durum wheat production in the United States is forecast at 91.7 million bushels, up 11% from both July and 2015, according to the USDA's latest estimate for the crop.

The United States yield is forecast at 44.1 bushels per acre, up 4.3 bushels from last month and up 0.6 bushel from last year. Expected area to be harvested for grain totals 2.08 million acres, unchanged from last month but up 10% from last year.

Yield forecasts are unchanged from last month in all States except Montana and North Dakota. Durum wheat crop development has progressed well ahead of normal in Montana and North Dakota this year. As of July 31, crop conditions in Montana and North Dakota were rated 51% and 87% good to excellent, respectively. If realized, the average yield in Montana and North Dakota will be a record high.

Durum Wheat Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2015 and
Forecasted August 1, 2016
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                :    Area harvested     :        Yield per acre         :      Production
                :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      State     :           :           :           :       2016        :           :
                :   2015    :   2016    :   2015    :-------------------:   2015    :   2016
                :           :           :           : July 1  :August 1 :           :
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                :   -- 1,000 acres --       --------- bushels --------        1,000 bushels
                :
Arizona ........:     140          97       101.0      107.0     107.0     14,140      10,379
California .....:      60          45       103.0      105.0     105.0      6,180       4,725
Montana ........:     605         665        31.0       34.0      38.0     18,755      25,270
North Dakota ...:   1,075       1,260        39.5       35.0      40.0     42,463      50,400
                :
Other States 1/ :      16          15        59.1       63.7      63.7        946         956
                :
United States ..:   1,896       2,082        43.5       39.8      44.1     82,484      91,730
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1/ Other States include Idaho and South Dakota. Individual State level estimates will be
   published in the "Small Grains 2016 Summary."