WHEAT AND OATS PRODUCTION UP FROM 2004

Columbia, S.C., September 30, 2005:Based on the September 1 Agricultural Survey,SOUTH CAROLINA'S 2005 production of wheat and oats is up from last year, according to the USDA NASS South Carolina Field Office.

This year's WHEAT production is estimated at 8.58 million bushels, 8 percent above last year's 7.92 million bushels. The year 2005 acres harvested at 165,000, is 15,000 acres below a year ago, however, the average yield per acre of 52 bushels is up 8 bushels from 2004. The planted acres are 170,000, down 20,000 acres from last year’s 190,000.

The 2005 production of OATS, at 1.18 million bushels is up 7 percent from a year earlier. This year's harvested acres, at 20,000, is unchanged from last year but the average yield of 59 bushels is up 4 bushels from 2004. The planted acres are 35,000, down 5,000 acres from a year ago.

UNITED STATES 2005 PRODUCTION AND PERCENT OF PREVIOUS YEAR

                       Wheat, Winter.....................1.49         Billion  Bushels,       100 %

                       Rye......................................7.54        Million Bushels,          91%

                       Oats.....................................115         Million Bushels,          99 % 

                       Barley...................................212        Million Bushels,          76 %

For additional information call: Robert A. Graham, State Statistician

                                                Jim Johnson, Agricultural Statistician