U.S. Spring Wheat Crop Dips

WASHINGTON - Aug 12/16 - SNS -- Production of spring wheat other than durum is forecast at 571 million bushels, up 4% from the July 1 forecast but down 5% from 2015, according to the USDA's latest estimate for the crop.

The United States yield is forecast at 48.3 bushels per acre, up 1.8 bushels from last month and up 2 bushels from last year. Of the total production, 531 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, up 4% from the July forecast but down 6% from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 11.8 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 9% from last year.

Compared with July 1, yield forecasts are up in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington but down in Minnesota. If realized, the average yield in Minnesota and Montana will be a record high.

In the six major producing States, 10% of the crop was harvested by July 31, four percentage points ahead of last year and slightly ahead of the 5-year average. As of July 31, harvest had begun in all major producing States.

Other Spring 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 --
                    :
Idaho ..............:     425         440       70.0        75.0        77.0        29,750      33,880
Minnesota ..........:   1,430       1,350       60.0        63.0        60.0        85,800      81,000
Montana ............:   2,440       2,240       31.0        34.0        38.0        75,640      85,120
North Dakota .......:   6,650       6,200       48.0        45.0        47.0       319,200     291,400
Oregon .............:      93          98       50.0        58.0        60.0         4,650       5,880
South Dakota .......:   1,260         950       48.0        48.0        49.0        60,480      46,550
Washington .........:     625         540       36.0        46.0        49.0        22,500      26,460
                    :
Other States 1/ ....:      18          17       58.9        68.2        66.2         1,060       1,125
                    :
United States ......:  12,941      11,835       46.3        46.5        48.3       599,080     571,415
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1/ Other States include Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. Individual State level estimates will be published
   in the "Small Grains 2016 Summary."