Moderate Gains in Spring Wheat Output

WASHINGTON - Aug 13/15 - SNS -- Output of spring wheat other than durum is forecast at 621 million bushels, up less than 1% from the July 1 forecast and up 4% from 2014, according to the latest USDA production forecast for 2015.

The United States yield is forecast at 47.0 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from both last month and last year. Of the total production, 576 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, up 1% from the July forecast and up 4% from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 13.2 million acres, unchanged from last month but up 4% from last year.

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

In the six major producing States, 8% of the crop was harvested as of August 2, five percentage points ahead of last year but 3 percentage points below the 5-year average. As of August 2, harvest had begun in all major producing States except North Dakota.

Other Spring Wheat Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2014 and
Forecasted August 1, 2015
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                    :    Area harvested     :          Yield per acre           :      Production
                    :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        State       :           :           :           :         2015          :           :
                    :   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :-----------------------:   2014    :   2015
                    :           :           :           :  July 1   : August 1  :           :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :  --- 1,000 acres --       ---------- bushels ---------       -- 1,000 bushels --
                    :
Idaho ..............:     455         550       76.0        70.0        73.0        34,580      40,150
Minnesota ..........:   1,180       1,600       55.0        62.0        64.0        64,900     102,400
Montana ............:   2,980       2,750       35.0        32.0        31.0       104,300      85,250
North Dakota .......:   6,140       6,200       47.5        48.0        48.0       291,650     297,600
Oregon .............:      78         117       48.0        47.0        47.0         3,744       5,499
South Dakota .......:   1,280       1,370       56.0        46.0        47.0        71,680      64,390
Washington .........:     610         610       38.0        39.0        40.0        23,180      24,400
                    :
Other States 1/ ....:      17          20       59.1        61.1        64.6         1,004       1,292
                    :
United States ......:  12,740      13,217       46.7        46.7        47.0       595,038     620,981
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1/ Other States include Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. Individual State level estimates will be published
   in the "Small Grains 2015 Summary."