July 12, 2007

Missouri Winter Wheat Production 27 Percent Below 2006

Columbia, MO - "As producers complete harvest of this year's crop, the April freeze damage continues to be evident," according to Gene Danekas, Director, Missouri Agricultural Statistics. "Lower yields and poor test weights are the norm for 2007."

Based on conditions on July 1, Missouri production of winter wheat is forecast at 35.7 million bushels, up 6 percent from the June 1 forecast but 27 percent below last year. Yields in the State are expected to average 42 bushels per acre, unchanged from the June 1 forecast but down 12 bushels from the 2006 yield. Harvested acres are forecast at 850,000, up 6 percent from the June 1 forecast but down 7 percent from the 2006 acreage level.

U.S. Winter Wheat Production Down 3 Percent From June Forecast

Winter wheat production in the United States is forecast at 1.56 billion bushels. This is down 3 percent from last month but 20 percent above 2006. The U.S. yield is forecast at 41.6 bushels per acre, down 1.6 bushels from last month and down 0.1 bushel from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain totals 37.6 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 29, 2007 but up 21 percent from last year.

Hard Red Winter, at 964 million bushels, is down 7 percent from a month ago. Soft Red Winter, at 364 million bushels, is up 7 percent from the last forecast. White Winter is down 1 percent from last month and now totals 235 million bushels. Of this total, 18.1 million bushels are Hard White and 216 million bushels are Soft White.

Wheat yields in states adjacent to Missouri are: Arkansas 40; Illinois 57; Kansas 32; Kentucky 51; Nebraska 42; Oklahoma 27 and Tennessee 39.