Hard red winter (HRW) wheat production is down 20 million bushels from the previous estimate, but up 73 million bushels from 2007 to 1,035 million bushels. HRW harvested acreage is 25.9 million acres, down 0.9 million acres from the previous estimate, but up slightly, 0.2 million acres, from 2007. 1 HRW yield for 2008 is 39.9 bushels per acre, up 0.6 bushel from the previous estimate and up 2.5 bushels per acre
from 2007.
HRW planted acreage is down from last year due to dry conditions at planting time in the Great Plains States. Although fewer acres of wheat were planted in Kansas and Oklahoma, producers saw good harvest conditions compared with last year’s flood- and freeze-damaged crops which resulted in an increase in harvested acres in these States this year. Oklahoma's production is up 70 percent from 2007 and Kansas’ production is up 25 percent. Colorado and Texas experienced drought situations that reduced production 39 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
Soft red winter (SRW) production is up 5 million bushels from the previous estimate, and up 256 million bushels from 2007 to 614 million bushels. SRW harvested acreage is 10.1 million acres, up 0.2 million acres from the previous estimate and up 3.0 million acres, from 2007. SRW yield for 2008 is 60.9 bushels per acre, down 0.4 bushel from the previous estimate, but up 10.2 bushel per acre from 2007.
Favorable conditions along with high wheat prices during the fall resulted in more acreage planted to wheat across all of the SRW growing region. This is the third straight year of larger planted area in the southern SRW growing areas with harvested area also increasing sharply. Production of SRW wheat is up from last year when yields were reduced by an early April freeze. Good growing conditions resulted in record yields in many States.
hite winter production is up 8 million bushels from the previous estimate, and up 22 million bushels from 2007 to 219 million bushels. White winter harvested acreage is 3.6 million acres, up 0.1 million acres from the previous estimate and up 0.4 million acres, from 2007. White winter yield for 2008 is 60.9 bushels per acre, up 0.2 bushel from the previous estimate, but down 0.6 bushel per acre from 2007.
White winter planted acreage in the Pacific Northwest States is above last year’s level. In Washington, yields are down from last year due to a lack of rain and unseasonably high temperatures during the growing season. Although the Idaho and Oregon crops faced dry weather in May and June, conditions improved and yields were up two bushels and three bushels from a year ago, respectively.
Spring Wheat Production Up Significantly From 2007
Hard red spring (HRS) production is up 45 million bushels from the previous estimate, and up 63 million bushels from 2007 to 512 million bushels. HRS harvested acreage is 12.8 million acres, down 0.2 million acres from the previous estimate and up 0.4 million acres, from 2007. HRS yield for 2008 is 39.9 bushels per acre, up 4.1 bushel from the previous estimate and up 3.7 bushels per acre from 2007.
Spring wheat planting pace in the six major producing States started off at normal or ahead of normal, but crop development and maturation was behind normal throughout the growing season. Hot and dry weather during July caused the crop condition ratings to decline and accelerated maturation, but crop progress still remained behind normal. Harvest progress lagged behind the normal pace in all States in the growing area. Durum wheat production is down 2 million bushels from the previous estimate, and up 13 million bushels from 2007 to 85 million bushels. The Small Grains–2008 Summary reported that durum harvested acreage is 2.6 million acres, unchanged from the previous estimate and up 0.5 million acres, from 2007. The durum yield is estimated at 32.8 bushels per acre, down 0.7 bushel from the last forecast and down 1.1 bushels from 2007.
In the northern Great Plains, warm, dry conditions during the months of June and July accelerated crop development and decreased the yield from last year. Yields are below last year’s level in all States except California.
Total white-wheat production for 2008 is estimated at 254 million bushels, up 27 million from last year. Of 2008 total white-wheat production, 225 million bushels are soft wheat and 29 million bushels are hard wheat. Soft-white-wheat production is up year-toyear by 25 million bushels, while hard-white-wheat production is up 2 million bushels.