June 15, 2012

US Colorado's scales back winter wheat crop estimate

Federal agriculture authorities are scaling back their winter wheat output projection for US Colorado this 2012.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service said Tuesday (June 12) it expects a Colorado winter wheat harvest of almost 87.8 million bushels. That's down 5% from the May 1 forecast, but it's still more than the 78 million bushels produced last year.

The average yield is now forecast at 39 bushels per acre, which is two bushels below the May 1 forecast but equal to last year's forecast.

Dry and warm spring conditions caused this year's crop to progress two weeks faster than normal. Agriculture officials say the wheat is in mostly fair condition.