July 14, 2011

 

Oklahoma wheat production could have been worse, say officials

 

 

Officials in Oklahoma, US, generally remain pleased about this year's winter wheat production because yields could have been much worse than they were, if the necessary moisture had not been available.

 

North-central Oklahoma's winter wheat production and yield were both adjusted up from June, according to USDA's National Agriculture Statistics Service.

 

The estimated yield for north-central Oklahoma is now 30 million bushels, with an average yield of 27 bushels per acre, according to July's report. June's report showed north-central Oklahoma producing 28.8 million bushels and 25.5 bushels per acre.

 

Despite the increase in the numbers on July's report, the district's production level and yields per acre are down from 2010.

 

"We were kind of fortunate," said Roger Don Gribble, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES) northwest area agronomist. "We did get off to a really good start. We didn't finish well because of rainfall patterns."

 

Gribble said a bit of extra rain and snow during the winter and spring helped the crop.

 

Rod Jones, OCES farm management specialist, said there had been discussion in recent months about whether the numbers on the report are too high, but added that the numbers were probably accurate.

 

"It's about what I expected after we got into harvest," Jones said on the district's production and yield numbers. "It's more than I would have expected if you asked me in early May. It's not a good crop. But I think a lot of people expected it to be even worse, myself included."

 

Although yields per acre and production both were adjusted up from June to July, the number of harvested acres in the district was adjusted down.

 

July's report shows 1.4 million acres of winter wheat planted in the district, with only 1.11 million of those acres being harvested. June's report showed 1.13 million of the 1.4 million acres harvested.

 

Statewide estimates for production and yield per acre have not changed between June and July. The state's wheat production is forecast at 74.8 million bushels with an average yield of 22 bushels per acre.

 

"We've really been hit hard in the southern plains," said Mike Schulte, Oklahoma Wheat Commission executive director. "It seems the crop is going to look better as we move north."