May 12, 2006

Missouri Winter Wheat Production Up 58 Percent From 2005

Columbia, MO - "The Missouri winter wheat crop is expected to be up sharply from the abnormally low level of a year earlier," said Gene Danekas, Director, Missouri Agricultural Statistics. "The increase in production is primarily the result of favorable weather during the seeding period last fall which allowed farmers to plant their normal intended acreage."

The State production of winter wheat is forecast at 46.1 million bushels, based on conditions as of May 1, 2006, up 58 percent from the 2005 crop but 5 percent less than 2 years ago. Yields in the State are expected to average 53 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from the 2005 yield. Harvested acres are forecast at 870,000, up 61 percent from the low 2005 acreage level.

U.S. Winter Wheat Production Down 12 Percent

United States winter wheat production is forecast at 1.32 billion bushels, down 12 percent from 2005. Based on May 1 conditions, the U.S. yield is forecast at 42.4 bushels per acre, 2.0 bushels less than last year. Grain area totals 31.2 million acres, down 8 percent from last season. Hard Red production is down 23 percent from a year ago to 715 million bushels. Soft Red is up 15 percent and totals 356 million bushels. White production totals 252 million bushels, down 3 percent from a year ago. Of the White production total, 21.7 million bushels are Hard White and 230 million bushels are Soft White.

Wheat yield forecasts in states adjacent to Missouri are as follows: Arkansas 54; Illinois 63; Kansas 34; Kentucky 68; Nebraska 38; Oklahoma 22 and Tennessee 56.