05/16/05 A bigger PNW winter wheat crop

05/16/05 A bigger PNW winter wheat crop

Farm and Ranch May 16, 2005 Winter wheat production in the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho could be up four percent over 2004 this year at 237.7 million bushels. That's what the Agricultural Statistics Service said last week in its first forecast of the U.S. winter wheat crop based on conditions as of May 1st. Garibay: "The timely rains we received in March and April really boosted our winter wheat crop condition." That's Ray Garibay, Washington's State Statistician who cautions that because of short soil moisture continuance of timely moisture will be key. Garibay: "A lot of weather between now and the time we see those combines out in the fields. So, while this report is optimistic I would tread lightly and look at that rainfall between now and harvest time." One reason for the larger crop forecast is that harvested acres of winter wheat in the PNW are up two percent over last year. Per acre yields in Idaho at 90 bushels would equal 2004. The 68 bushel an acre yield in Washington would be a bushel more than last year, while in Oregon yields are forecast to drop six bushels to 55 bushels an acre. Nationally, winter wheat production is currently pegged at 1.59 billion bushels, six percent more than 2004. USDA is projecting lower wheat prices for the new marketing year as U.S. exports are expected to decline and stocks increase, despite a forecast for lower world wheat production and a small drop in ending stocks. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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