News

USDA sees smaller winter wheat crop in 2020

The USDA projects this year’s winter wheat crop at 1.255 billion bushels, down 4% from 2019. As of May 1st, the average yield is expected to be 51.7 bushels per acre, compared to the year ago average of 53.6 bushels per acre, with a modest year to year decrease in harvested area, from 24.327 million in 2019 to 24.275 million in 2020. By type, hard red winter is seen at 733.409 million bushels, 99.772 million less than last year with a 4% decrease in harvested area, soft red winter at 297.527 million bushels, up 58.361 million with an 18% increase in harvested area, and combined white winter at 223.664 million bushels, 7.992 million below a year ago.

As of Sunday, 53% of U.S. winter wheat was rated good to excellent, down 2% on the week and 11% on the year.

The USDA’s next set of supply, demand, and production numbers is out June 11th.

Year to year comparisons for applicable Brownfield states:

Arkansas: 5.6 million bushels, compared to 2.6 million in 2019; average yield of 56 bushels per acre, compared to 52 a year ago; harvested area of 100,000 acres, compared to 50,000 last year

Illinois: 38.16 million bushels, compared to 36.85 million in 2019; average yield of 72 bushels per acre, compared to 67 a year ago; harvested area of 530,000 acres, compared to 550,000 last year

Indiana: 19.98 million bushels, compared to 16.12 million in 2019; average yield of 74 bushels per acre, compared to 62 a year ago; harvested area of 270,000 acres, compared to 260,000 last year

Michigan: 36.34 million bushels, compared to 34.08 million in 2019; average yield of 79 bushels per acre, compared to 71 a year ago; harvested area of 460,000 acres, compared to 480,000 last year

Missouri: 25.35 million bushels, compared to 24.57 million in 2019; average yield of 65 bushels per acre, compared to 63 a year ago; harvested area of 390,000 acres, unchanged from last year

Nebraska: 41.76 million bushels, compared to 55.29 million in 2019; average yield of 48 bushels per acre, compared to 57 a year ago; harvested area of 870,000 acres, compared to 970,000 last year

Ohio: 34.04 million bushels, compared to 21.56 million in 2019; average yield of 74 bushels per acre, compared to 56 a year ago; harvested area of 460,000 acres, compared to 385,000 last year

South Dakota: 28.42 million bushels, compared to 40.04 million in 2019; average yield of 49 bushels per acre, compared to 52 a year ago; harvested area of 580,000 acres, compared to 770,000 last year

Tennessee: 15.18 million bushels, compared to 14.405 million in 2019; average yield of 66 bushels per acre, compared to 67 a year ago; harvested area of 230,000 acres, compared to 215,000 last year

Wisconsin: 9.1 million bushels, compared to 9.6 million in 2019; average yield of 70 bushels per acre, compared to 64 a year ago; harvested area of 130,000 acres, compared to 150,000 last year