07/13/06 U.S. Spring wheat crop down from 05

Farm and Ranch July 13, 2006 In its July crop production report issued Wednesday the USDA said the nation's winter wheat crop this year is forecast at 1.28 billion bushels, up one percent from June but still 15 percent below 2005. Average yield estimates in the northwest were unchanged from last month in Oregon at 55 bushels to the acre, but lowered two bushels in Idaho to 84 and trimmed a bushel in Washington to 67 bushels. The U.S. spring wheat crop was pegged at 465 million bushels down eight percent from last year, but that was as of July 1st and the crop is in a critical stage during a heat wave in the northern Plains. In the northwest, lower spring wheat yields than last year are forecast for Idaho, 68 bushels, and Oregon, 50 bushels, while in Washington yields could be six bushels better at 50 bushels an acre. Total U.S. soft white wheat production this year is forecast at 260.8 million bushels, down about eight million from 2005 and white wheat ending stocks are expected to drop seven million bushels to 71 million. Total U.S. wheat carryout is predicted to drop year to year to 438 million bushels but that's up from last month's forecast. And Joe Victor of Allendale Incorporated says so are world wheat ending stocks. Victor: "It is a notable increase to 133.2 million." That's tons. Still, based on recent market price increases USDA raised its season average price forecast for wheat a dime. It ranges from $3.70 to $4.30 a bushel. Last year's average price was $3.42. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.