Agro Perspectiva

U.S. wheat production forecast at 2.216 million bushels

13.07.2010 09:46 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — U.S. 2010 all wheat production was forecast at 2,215,761,000 bushels, down only 410,000 bushels from 2,216,171,000 bushels in 2009, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its July 9 Crop Production report. The USDA forecast winter wheat production at 1,505,493,000 bushels, up 2% from 1,482,364,000 bushels in June but down 1%, from 1,522,718,000 bushels in 2009. Production of spring wheat other than durum was forecast at 606,755,000 bushels, up 4% from 584,411,000 bushels a year ago and the third largest crop on record. The average yield was forecast at 44.6 bushels an acre, down 0.5 bushels from 45.1 bushels in 2009 and the second highest on record. Harvested area was forecast at 13,590,000 acres, unchanged from the June Acreage report but up 5% from a year ago. Production of hard red spring wheat was forecast at 567,003,000 bushels, up 3% from 547,933,000 bushels in 2009. Durum outturn was forecast at 103,513,000 bushels, down 5% from 109,042,000 bushels in 2009. Based on July 1 conditions, durum yield was forecast at 40 bushels an acre, down 4.9 bushels from 44.9 bushels in 2009 but still the second highest on record, the USDA said. The USDA forecast winter wheat yield at 46.9 bushels an acre based on conditions as of July 1, up 0.3 bushels from June, up 2.7 bushels from 44.2 bushels last year and the third highest on record if realized. Harvested area was forecast at 32,085,000 acres, up from 31,786,000 acres in the June Crop Production report but unchanged from the June Acreage report and down 7% from a year ago. Hard red winter wheat production was forecast at 1,011,486,000 bushels, up 3% from 979,231,000 bushels in June and up 10% from 919,015,000 bushels in 2009. Soft red winter production was forecast at 267,768,000 bushels, down 6% from June and down 34% from 403,563,000 bushels in 2009. If realized, 2010 outturn would be the lowest since 188,920,000 bushels in 1978. White winter wheat outturn was forecast at 226,239,000 bushels, up 3% from 219,165,000 bushels June and up 13% from 200,140,000 bushels in 2009, including soft white at 208,420,000 bushels, up 15% from last year, and hard white at 17,819,000 bushels, down 2%. The USDA production estimates all were above average pre-report trade expectations except in the case of soft red winter wheat. The USDA forecast 2010 oats production at 87,726,000 bushels, down 6% from 93,081,000 bushels in 2009 and the lowest on record. Harvested area was forecast at 1,315,000 acres, down 5% from 2009 and also the lowest on record.