National Grain Stocks Report          All wheat stored in all positions on June 1, 2005 totaled 540 million bushels, down 1 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 161 million bushels, up 22 percent from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 379 million bushels, are down 9 percent from a year ago. The March - May 2005 indicated disappearance is 445 million bushels, down 6 percent from the same period a year earlier.          Barley stocks in all positions on June 1, 2005 totaled 129 million bushels, up 7 percent from June 1, 2004. On-farm stocks are estimated at 41.1 million bushels, 45 percent above a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 87.6 million bushels, are 5 percent below June 1, 2004. The March - May 2005 indicated disappearance is 62.0 million bushels, 90 percent above the same period a year earlier.

 

Hay Prices

Nevada Hay

         All Hay and Alfalfa hay prices for June were up for the month of May while All Other Hay was down minutely for the month. State level prices were up for Alfalfa and Alfalfa mixtures while All Other Hay was down for the month. All Hay came in at $115.00 per ton, $10.00 per ton above the May average. Alfalfa, at $113.00 per ton, was up $11.00 from last month. All Other Hay averaged $129 per ton, down $1.00 from May.

National Report

         National level prices were down for All Hay, Alfalfa and Alfalfa mixtures as well as All Other Hay for the month. All Hay came in at $102 per ton, $5.00 per ton below the May average. Alfalfa, at $112.00 per ton, was down $4.00 from last month. All Other Hay averaged $73.60 per ton, down $2.50 from May 2005 prices.

Grain Crops Acreage Fluctuate Marginally for 2005

 

         All wheat planted area is estimated at 58.1 million acres, down 3 percent from 2004. Harvested area is expected to total 50.4 million acres, up 1 percent from last year. The 2005 winter wheat planted area, at 41.4 million acres, is 4 percent below last year, and down less than 1 percent from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 30.3 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 6.5 million acres Soft Red Winter, and 0.8 million acres Hard White Winter, and 3.7 million acres Soft White Winter Wheat. Acreage planted to other spring wheat for 2005 is estimated at 14.1 million, up 2 percent from 2004. Of this total, about 13.5 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat.

 

         Corn planted area for all purposes is estimated at 81.6 million acres, up 1 percent from 2004 and 4 percent above 2003. Growers expect to harvest 74.4 million acres for grain, up from the 73.6 million acres in 2004. Farmers increased corn acres planted 179,000 acres from their March intentions. Planting conditions during April and May across much of the Corn Belt were dry and provided favorable planting conditions which allowed planting to progress well ahead of normal. Planting progress in the Southeast, Northwest, and California was slowed by heavy rainfall during April, but drier weather during May allowed growers to recover and finish planting ahead of normal.

 

         The 2005 soybean planted area is estimated at 73.3 million acres, down 3 percent from last year and all cotton planted for 2005 are expected to total 14.0 million acres, 3 percent above 2004.

         In Nevada, 2005 planted corn acreage for all purposes was 4,000 acres, which remains unchanged from last year’s production. Barley acreage has also remained unchanged from last years production. Wheat planted acreage of 14,000 acres has been reported, which is unchanged from the previous year’s numbers. Winter Wheat planted acres are estimated at 8,000 acres increased 2,000 acres from last years planting, while Other Spring Wheat acres have decreased by 2,000 acres from last year to 6,000 acres.

June Crop & Weather Summary

 

         Seasonal warming was melting mountain snow packs early in the month greatly increasing river and stream flows. Thundershowers arrived the second week of the month dropping heavy precipitation in some areas. Many rivers and streams reached flood stage with some running out of their banks. Several fields were flooded and wet field conditions prevented agricultural use in many areas. Mostly dry weather prevailed during the second half of the month. Lightning ignited range fires toward the end of the month and some very large fires were burning in southern Nevada at the end of the month. Irrigation water supplies were plentiful and Lovelock growers were enjoying adequate water supplies for the first time in few years. Corn planting was completed and the warmer weather had crops growing well. Hay harvest was in full swing with alfalfa first cutting active in the north and second cutting underway in the south. Some oat fields were cut for hay as were some grassy meadows. Grain hay harvest got going later in the month. Alfalfa seed fields were blooming by the end of the month. Cattle and sheep were on summer range with good to excellent forage conditions. Mormon crickets and grasshoppers were out in force and control measures were underway. Wet Spring weather had insect populations thriving. Main farm and ranch activities: irrigating, haying, weed spraying.

 

Monthly Weather Summary for Selected Nevada Stations, June 2005

 

Sheep and Lamb Losses

 

         Sheep and lamb losses from animal predators and non-predator causes in the United States totaled 600,300. Sheep and lamb losses from animal predators totaled 224,200. This represented 37.3 percent of the total losses from all causes and resulted in a loss of $18.3 million to farmers and ranchers. Coyotes and dogs caused the majority of sheep and lamb losses accounting for 60.5 percent and 13.3 percent respectively. Sheep and lamb losses from non-predator causes totaled 376,100 or 62.7 percent of the total losses. Respiratory problems was the leading cause of non-predator deaths accounting for 17.5 percent, followed by digestive problems at 17.1 percent.

         Nevada ranchers lost 6,000 sheep and 12,000 lambs in 2004. Predators accounted for the loss of 3,400 sheep and 9,000 lambs. Value of the losses in Nevada exceeded $500,000.00. Coyotes caused two-thirds of the losses. Other predators of Nevada sheep included mountain lions, bears, dogs, and bobcats.

Pasture and Range