SPRING WHEAT PRODUCTION Spring Wheat Other Than Durum. Growers produced an estimated 505 million bushels (13.7 million metric tons), up 147 percent from the 1988 production and 13 percent more than in 1987. Yield averaged 29.3 bushels per acre, up 10 bushels per acre from 1988. Area harvested totaled 17.2 million acres (7.0 million hectares), 64 percent more than the 10.5 million acres (4.3 million hectare) in 1987. Seeding of the 1989 spring wheat was normal to early in most areas with normal emergence in most areas. Temperatures were relatively normal, but subsoil moisture was very limited from the severe drought that occurred in 1988. The crop was totally dependent upon the current rainfall with no soil moisture reserve. Therefore yields could vary widely depending upon the rainfall patterns which developed. Most diseases were of minor importance in most areas, with some problems from wheat streak virus in spring wheat when planted near winter wheat. Harvest was normal in most areas with little sprouting problems. Severe drought stress was encountered primarily in the western areas of North Dakota and South Dakota, and in eastern Montana. The 1989 Spring Wheat Crop The Statistical Reporting Service, USDA, preliminary report: SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acres (1000) Yield (Bu/A) Bushels (1000) --------------------- -------------------- --------------------- State 1987 1988 1989 1987 1988 1989 1987 1988 1989 Minnesota 2,400 2,100 2,550 41.0 23.0 38.0 98,400 48,300 96,900 Montana 2,300 1,500 3,400 29.0 12.0 26.0 66,700 18,000 88,400 North Dakota 6,100 4,750 7,400 31.0 15.0 24.0 189,100 71,250 177,600 South Dakota 1,080 1,300 2,100 27.0 12.0 22.0 48,600 15,000 46,200 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S.A. 13,343 10,538 17,214 33.6 19.4 29.3 448,514 204,764 504,759