US wheat crop up 21 percent from 2007

The US wheat crop would total 2.5 billion bushels in 2008, up 21 percent from 2007, according to the USDA.

The figure is up 2 percent from an August forecast.

Wheat acreage, at 55.7 million acres, is up nine percent from last year.

The yield is 44.9 bushels per acre, up 1.4 bushels from the last forecast and up 4.4 bushels from last year.

Winter wheat production, at 1.87 billion bushels, is up 23 percent. Spring wheat at 547 million bushels is up 14 percent while Durum wheat at 84.9 million bushels is up 18 percent.

Meanwhile, oat production is estimated at a record low 88.6 million bushels, 1 percent below the August 1 forecast and down 3 percent from last year. The estimated yield is 63.5 bushels per acre, up 1.2 bushels from the last forecast and up 2.6 bushels from the previous year.

Compared with last year, yields increased in the central and southern Great Plains, Pacific Northwest, and most States in the eastern half of the country. Harvested area, at 1.40 million acres, is 3 percent and 7 percent below August and last year, respectively. This is the smallest acreage harvested for grain on record, continuing a steady downward trend.

Barley production is estimated at 239 million bushels, 10 percent above the August forecast and 13 percent above 2007. Average yield per acre, at 63.6 bushels, is up 3.7 bushels from August and 3.2 bushels from last year. The area harvested for grain is estimated at 3.77 million acres, up 7 percent from a year ago.