SPRING WHEAT PRODUCTION
SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM.
Growers produced an estimated 509,180 million bushels (15.2 million metric tons), down 4
percent from the 1998 production and down 7 percent from 1997. Yield averaged 34 bushels
per acre, down I bushel per acre from 1998 and up 4 bushels per acre from 1997. Area
harvested totaled 14.9 million acres (6.1 million hectares), 2 percent less than the 15.1
million acres (6.2 million hectares) in 1997.
Seeding of the spring wheat was began at a normal time but 2-3 weeks of rain delayed
planting especially in North Dakota and Minnesota. The early seeded wheat encountered
reasonably good growing conditions until hot weather in mid- July, and earlier planted
wheat or earlier maturing wheat had better opportunity to fill. Late planted later
maturing varieties were severely impacted. In early August, very wet conditions prevailed
preventing harvest and causing severe sprout damage in Northern Minnesota and North
Dakota. Protein content and test weight were both affected by the heat in July and by the
wet conditions in August and early September. Fusarium head blight was present but
problems were not major in Northern North Dakota and in Northwestern Minnesota. However,
very northern sites experienced some loss. Leaf diseases, including leaf rust, were
relatively widespread with some loss.
SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM
Acres (1000) Yield (Bu/A) Bushels (1000)
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1997 1998 1999 1997 1998 1999 1997 1998 1999
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Minnesota 2,350 1,920 2,100 32 41 40 75,200 78,720 84,000
Montana 4,100 3,600 4,000 29 30 27 118,900 108,000 108,000
North Dakota 8,400 6,600 5,600 25 32 30 210,000 211,200 168,000
South Dakota 2,250 1,850 1,710 28 32 35 63,000 59,200 59,850
USA 18,323 15,148 14,918 30 35 34 548,155 528,469 509,180
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