June 10, 2008

Missouri Wheat Production Up 4 Percent

COLUMBIA, MO - Winter wheat production in Missouri is forecast at 60.5 million bushels, based on conditions as of June 1, 2008, up 4 percent from the May 1 forecast. This would be 60 percent above the 2007 crop and 23 percent above 2 years ago. Estimated acreage for harvest, at 1.12 million acres, is unchanged from May 1 and 240,000 acres more than the 880,000 acres harvested in 2007. As of June 1, the average yield is forecast at 54.0 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from last month and 11.0 bushels per acre over last year’s average. “Disease problems could appear in some areas as a result of excess moisture but at this point producers are still expecting excellent yields,” said Gene Danekas, Director, Missouri Agricultural Statistics.

U.S. Winter Wheat Production Up 17 Percent

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.82 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the May 1 forecast and 20 percent above 2007. Based on June 1 conditions, the U.S. yield is forecast at 45.3 bushels per acre, up 1.0 bushel from last month and 3.1 bushels more than last year. Grain area totals 40.2 million acres, unchanged from May 1.

Hard Red production is up 2 percent from a month ago to 1.03 billion bushels. Soft Red is up 4 percent from last month and now totals 572 million bushels. White production totals 216 million bushels, up slightly from last month. Of the White production total, 23.2 million bushels are Hard White and 193 million bushels are Soft White.