July 9, 2010

Missouri Wheat Production Down 4 Percent from June

(COLUMBIA, MO) – “The lowest head count in 15 years points the Missouri wheat crop to a decreased yield,” said Gene Danekas, Director, Missouri Agricultural Statistics, “As producers began harvest, it was realized the thin crop would lead to disappointing yields.” Winter wheat production in Missouri is forecast at 13.6 million bushels, based on conditions as of July 1, 2010, down 4 percent from the June 1 forecast. This would be 60 percent below the 2009 crop and 76 percent below 2 years ago. Estimated acreage for harvest, at 310,000 acres, is unchanged from June 1 and 420,000 acres less than the 730,000 acres harvested in 2009. As of July 1, the average yield is forecast at 44 bushels per acre, down 2 bushels from last month and 3 bushels per acre below last year’s average.

Missouri summer potato planted acres are estimated at 7,700 acres, up 400 acres from 2009 and unchanged from the June 1 estimate. Harvested acres are forecast at 7,600 acres, up 500 acres from a year earlier and also unchanged from the June 1 estimate. Production is forecast at 2.28 million cwt., 17 percent above last year and 84 percent above 2008. Yield is forecast at 300 cwt. per acre, 25 cwt. above last year and 110 cwt. above 2008. Missouri peach production is estimated at 6,500 tons, 35 percent above last year’s 4,800 tons and 7 percent above 2008.

U.S. Winter Wheat Production Up 2 Percent from June

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.51 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last month but down 1 percent from 2009. The United States yield is forecast at 46.9 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last month and up 2.7 bushels from last year. If realized, this will be tied for the third highest yield on record, trailing only 1999 and 2008. The area expected to be harvested for grain totals 32.1 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 30, 2010 but down 7 percent from last year.

Hard Red Winter, at 1.01 billion bushels, is up 3 percent from a month ago. Soft Red Winter, at 268 million bushels, is down 6 percent from the previous forecast. White Winter is up 3 percent from last month and now totals 226 million bushels. Of this total, 17.8 million bushels are Hard White and 208 million bushels are Soft White.