February 15, 2007

Total Value of Wyoming Crops Increases

The value of all crops produced in Wyoming in 2006 is estimated at $290.9 million, according to Nancy Hussey with the Wyoming Field Office of USDA NASS. The total value is up 6 percent from 2005 and up 15 percent from 2004. Market year average prices were higher for corn, oats, barley, winter wheat, spring wheat, all wheat, alfalfa hay, other hay, all hay, dry beans and sugarbeets. Value of production increased from 2005 for corn for grain, oats, all wheat, winter wheat, all hay, alfalfa hay, other hay, and sugarbeets but was lower for barley, spring wheat, and dry edible beans.

The leading crop in value continues to be hay. The 2006 all hay production is valued at $190.3 million, up 11 percent from 2005. Hay prices averaged $90.00 a ton, up $15.50 from the 2005 crop. All hay accounted for 65 percent of the total crop value. Sugarbeets followed hay in value with beets estimated at $34.3 million, based on 2005 production and 2005 prices pending calculation of 2006 prices.

Other significant crops, their 2006 value, and the change in value from 2005 are: barley $15.8 million, down 13 percent as production decreased by 15 percent; corn for grain $17.4 million, up 4 percent as an increase in price more than offset a lower production; all wheat $18.4 million, up 13 percent as a $1.27 per bushel increase in price more than offset a 17% lower production, and dry beans $12.4 million, down 14 percent as production decreased by 24 percent despite a $2.40 per cwt increase in price.

These estimates do not include any payments from government programs. Preliminary market year average prices except for sugarbeets are based on monthly prices through December 2006 with allowance for projected prices the remainder of the marketing year.