US producers see positive increase for winter wheat

Based on June 1 conditions, Montana winter-wheat producers are expecting a yield of 43 bushels per acre, up three bushels an acre from the May 1 forecast and an increase of six bushels an acre over last year's final yield, according to the USDA.

If realised, the total production would be 81.7 million bushels, 9% below last year's 89.5 million bushels. The drop in production would be a result of a decrease in harvested acreage from 2.42 million acres in 2009, to 1.90 million acres in 2010.

As of June 7, Montana's winter-wheat crop was rated better than a year ago, with 1% very poor, 6% poor, 26% fair, 47% good and 20% excellent, compared with last year's 2% very poor, 5% poor, 28% fair, 51% good, and 14% excellent.

52% of the acreage has reached the boot stage, compared with 40% at this time last year and the five-year average of 59%. So far, 1% of the acreage has headed, compared with 12% for the 5-year average.

US winter-wheat production is forecast at 1.48 billion bushels, up 2% from the May 1 forecast but 3% below 2009. Based on June 1 conditions; the yield is forecast at 46.6 bushels per acre, up 0.7 bushels from last month, and 2.4 bushels more than last year. The expected area for harvest as grain or seed totals 31.8 million acres, which is unchanged from May 1 forecasts.

Hard red production is up 2% from a month ago to 979 million bushels. Soft red production is up slightly from last month, totalling 284 million bushels. White production totals 219 million bushels, up 2% from last month.

Of the white production total, 17.3 million bushels are hard white and 202 million bushels are soft white.