SPRING WHEAT PRODUCTION
 
 Other Spring Wheat. Growers produced an estimated 449 million bushels (12. 2 million 
 metric tons), down 5 percent from the 1986 production and 7 percent less than in 1985. 
 Yield averaged 33.6 bushels per acre, up 1.3 bushels from 1986. Area harvested totaled 
 13.3 million acres (5.4 million hectares), 9 percent less than the 14.6 million acres 
 (5.7 million hectares) in 1986.
 
 Seeding of the 1987 spring wheat crop was quite early in many areas but was often 
 followed by poorer than normal emergence in some areas. Temperatures stayed well above 
 normal and were accompanied by very dry conditions. In general diseases were of minor 
 importance in most areas, although more prevalent in areas with higher moisture 
 conditions. Harvest was at least a week earlier than normal throughout Minnesota, North 
 Dakota, and South Dakota due to the warmer than normal growing season. Drought stress was 
 encountered most seriously in western areas of North Dakota and South Dakota.
 
 Durum Wheat. The 1987 crop is estimated at 95.5 million bushels (2.60 million metric 
 tons), down 2 percent from the 97.9 million bushels (2.7 million metric tons) produced in 
 1986. Yield average 29.1 bushels per acres, 4.9 bushels per acre less than in 1986. Area 
 harvested is estimated at 3.28 million acres (1.33 million hectares), up 14 percent from 
 1986 and at the highest level in the last 5 years.
 
 Seeding of the crop was earlier than normal. A hot dry June stressed the crop. Harvest 
 progressed well and was at least a week earlier than normal.
 
 				The 1987 Spring Wheat Crop
 
 The Statistical Reporting Service, USDA, preliminary report:
 
 			SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM
 
 			Acres (1000)		Yield (Bu/A)	Bushels (1000)
 		---------------------	--------------------	---------------
 State		1985	1986	1987	1985	1986	1987	1985	1986 	1987
 
 Minnesota	2,350	2,650	2,400	55.0	37.0	41.0	126,900	 98,050   98,400
 Montana		2,300	2,600	2,300	11.0	27.0	29.0	 29,900	 70,200   66,700
 North Dakota	5,600	6,400	6,100	37.0	31.0	31.0   	201,600 198,400  189,100
 South Dakota	2,150	1,980	1,800	30.0	25.0	27.0	 62,350	 49,500   48,600
 
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 U.S.A.	       13,687	14,641	13,343	35.3	32.0	33.6    473,907 472,230  448,514