SPRING WHEAT PRODUCTION Other Spring Wheat. Growers produced an estimated 473.9 million bushels (12.9 million metric tons) of spring wheat other than durum in 1985, 10 percent more than in 1984 and 32 percent more than in 1983. Yield averaged 35.3 bushels per acre, down 0.5 bushels from the record high in 1984. Area harvested totaled 13.4 million acres (5.47 million hectares) up 12 percent from the 11.9 million acres (4.86 million hectares) harvested in 1984. Seeding of the 1985 spring wheat crop was earlier than normal in most of the Dakota's and Minnesota. The growing season was favorable from the central Dakota's eastward through Minnesota, except that cool temperatures and heavy rains severely hampered and delayed the harvest in the northern areas of Minnesota and North Dakota. Western Dakotas and Montana were again very dry through the growing season. Record yields were recorded in Minnesota and North Dakota over the 1984 records with Minnesota averaging 54 bu/A and N. Dakota 36 bu/A. Diseases were not a major problem in 1985. The 1985 Spring Wheat Crop The Statistical Reporting Service, USDA, reported: SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM Acres (1000) Yield (Bu/A) Bushels (1000) ---------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- State 1983 1984 1985 1983 1984 1985 1983 1984 1985 Minnesota 2,030 2,160 2,350 37.0 48.0 54.0 75,110 103,680 126,900 Montana 1,990 2,025 2,300 27.0 18.0 13.0 53,730 36,450 29,900 North Dakota 5,000 5,340 5,600 27.0 34.0 36.0 135,000 181,560 201,600 South Dakota 1,400 1,650 2,150 26.0 34.0 29.0 36,400 56,100 62,350 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S.A. 11,314 11,991 13,438 31.7 35.8 35.3 358,541 428,869 473,907