June 6, 2007

US 2007 winter wheat forecast at 1.686 billion bushels

Memphis-based consulting firm Informa Economics projected the 2007 US all-winter wheat crop to reach 1.686 billion bushels, above US Agriculture Department's (USDA) May 11 production estimate of 1.62 billion, trade sources said on Tuesday.

Informa projected the US 2007 hard red winter wheat crop at 1.095 billion bushels, as against the government's estimate in May of 1.03 billion. It also predicted 2007 soft red winter wheat production at 353 million bushels, compared with USDA's estimate of 347 million.

Winter white wheat production was pegged at 238 million, down from USDA's estimate of 241 million, trade sources said.

USDA will issue updated wheat production forecasts on June 11.