THE 1973 SPRING WHEAT CROP The Statistical Reporting Service 1, USDA, reported: SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM Acres (1000) Yield (Bu/A) Bushels (1000) -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- State 1971 1972 1973 1971 1972 1973 1971 1972 1973 No. Dakota 6,594 5,143 6,220 31.5 29.0 28.0 207,711 149,147 174,160 So. Dakota 1,492 1,125 1,490 28.0 24.0 23.0 41,776 27,000 34,270 Minnesota 1,496 1,440 1,920 38.0 33.0 39.0 56,848 47,520 74,880 Montana 2,327 1,780 1,790 23.0 26.0 21.0 53,521 46,280 37,590 U.S.A. 12,451 9,894 12,494 30.7 29.0 28.6 381,820 286,799 356,887 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 - December, 1973. COMMENTS ON GROWING CONDITIONS Some cooperators furnished brief descriptions of growing conditions and they are summarized here to aid in data interpretation. MINNESOTA - Planting and harvest dates were normal. Moisture was adequate early in the season, but less than adequate during June and July. MONTANA - The trial at Sidney was dryland. Planting and harvest dates were normal. Temperature was normal. Rainfall was short in May and July, but above normal in June. The previous crop was fallow and additional N and P were applied at planting. NORTH DAKOTA - Planting and harvest dates were 1 to 2 weeks earlier than normal at most locations. Based on soil tests, fertilizer was applied at Carrington, Minot, and Williston. Excellent growing conditions existed at Minot and Carrington (irrigated). Rainfall was below average at Dickinson and Fargo. Temperatures were normal or slightly below normal at all locations. Hail destroyed the test at Langdon. NEBRASKA - Planting and harvest dates were normal. The soil moisture was adequate throughout the growing season. Temperatures were high in the latter part of June. WISCONSIN - Planting and harvest dates were normal. Soil was damp at planting time. Growing conditions were excellent, in general. SOUTH DAKOTA (Stations planted by Durum) - Planting and harvest dates were normal. Temperature and moisture conditions were normal. The previous crop at both locations was fallow, and additional N and P were applied at seeding. WASHINGTON - An extremely dry spring caused poor yields. Cool weather in June provided an opportunity for above normal test weight. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at the rate of 35 lbs/acre. CANADA (Saskatchewan) - Unfavorable conditions throughout the season. (Manitoba) - Planting and harvest dates were normal at Winnipeg. Temperatures were normal. Additional N and P fertilizer were applied in Fall of 1972. ALASKA - Planting date was normal and maturity was delayed by about 2 weeks due to abnormally wet, cool weather during June, July, and August. Previous crop was fallow and additional N, P, and K were applied. CONCLUSION SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM: Production of spring wheat other than durum in 1973 totaled 357 million bushels, 24 percent above the 1972 crop but 7 percent below the record high 1971 output. The larger production resulted from a 26 percent increase in acreage harvested. The average yield of 28.6 bushels per acre was 0.4 bushel below the previous year and 2.1 bushels below the record high 1971 yield of 30.7 bushels. Seeding of 1973 spring wheat in major growing areas was completed earlier than normal due to favorable weather. However, the crop was under stress during June and July from soil moisture shortages in Minnesota, the Dakotas, north central Montana, and Washington. While this held yields somewhat below earlier expectations, expanded use of new higher yielding varieties resulted in the third highest average yield of record. Minnesota achieved record high yields per acre. Harvest progressed reasonably well, although showers slowed progress and reduced quality. Despite the delay, combining was completed earlier than normal in most areas.