Informa expects slight year to year rise in winter wheat crop in USA

Informa Economics expects a slight year to year increase in U.S. winter wheat production despite poor conditions in some of the key growing areas, especially the hard red winter belt.

Hard red production is seen at 848 million bushels with an average yield of 37.5 bushels per acre, down from 1.018 billion bushels last year due to the drier than normal conditions in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Soft red winter is estimated at 421 million bushels with an average yield of 58.7 bushels per acre, a big jump from the year ago total of 238 million bushels thanks to improved yields and increased planted area.

Informa has white winter wheat unchanged on the year at 228 million bushels.

The total winter crop is pegged at 1.496 billion bushels, compared to 1.485 billion in 2010.

USDA’s next winter wheat production estimate is out May 11 at 7:30 AM Central.