September 28, 2007

Small Grain Production Down From Last Year

Wyoming:  Final estimates of the season for small grain production indicate smaller crops in 2007 for winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, and oats, according to Vito Wagner with the Wyoming Field Office of USDA NASS.  Compared with last year, production of winter wheat was down 11 percent, spring wheat was down 17 percent, barley decreased 3 percent, and oats fell 45 percent.  Harvested acreage also decreased from last year for the small grain crops.

Winter wheat production in 2007 is estimated at 3.25 million bushels, down 11 percent from 2006 and down 25 percent from 2005. The estimated yield of 26 bushels per acre is down 1 bushel from last year and down 4 bushels per acre from 2005.  There were 125,000 acres harvested, down 10,000 acres from 2006 and down 20,000 acres from 2005.

Spring wheat production in 2007 is estimated at 195,000 bushels, down 17 percent from 2006 and down 38 percent from 2005.  Average yield, at 39 bushels per acre, was unchanged from last year but 6 bushels per acre lower than 2005. Acreage harvested for spring wheat in 2006 totaled 5,000 acres, down 1,000 acres from last year and down 2,000 acres from 2005.

Wyoming Barley production during 2007 totaled 4.72 million bushels, down 3 percent from last year and down 15 percent from 2005.  The harvested acreage dropped to 53,000 acres, down 4,000 acres from last year and down 7,000 acres from 2005.  Harvested acres for barley were the lowest since 1936.  Yields averaged 89 bushels per harvested acre, up 4 bushels per acre from last year but 4 bushels per acre below the 2005 yield.

Oats production is estimated at 376,000 bushels, down 45 percent from 2006 and down 37 percent from 2005.  The average yield, at 47 bushels per acre, was 10 bushels below last year and 3 bushels below the 2005 crop.  There were 40,000 acres of oats planted this year, down 8,000 acres from 2006 and down 15,000 acres from 2005.  A new record low of 8,000 acres of oats were harvested for grain, down 4,000 acres from the previous two years.

United States: All wheat production totals 2.07 billion bushels in 2007, down 2 percent from the August forecast but up 14 percent from 2006. Grain area is 51.0 million acres, up 9 percent from last year. The U.S. yield is 40.5 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushel from the last forecast but up 1.8 bushels from last year. The level of production and change from last year by type are: winter wheat, 1.52 billion bushels, up 17 percent; other spring wheat, 479 million bushels, up 4 percent; Durum wheat, 71.7 million bushels, up 34 percent.

Oats production is estimated at a record low 91.6 million bushels, 7 percent below the August 1 forecast and down 2 percent from last year. The estimated yield is 60.9 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushel from the last forecast but up 1.1 bushels from the previous year. Compared with last year, yields increased in most States throughout the Great Plains and central Rocky Mountains. Harvested area, at 1.51 million acres, is 7 percent and 4 percent below August and last year, respectively. This is the smallest acreage harvested for grain on record, continuing a steady downward trend.

Barley production is estimated at 212 million bushels, down 5 percent from the August forecast but up 18 percent from last year. Average yield per acre, at 60.4 bushels, is down 2.7 bushels from the previous forecast and 0.7 bushel below the 2006 yield. The area harvested for grain is estimated at 3.51 million acres, down 1 percent from August but 19 percent above a year ago.