SPRING WHEAT PRODUCTION Other Spring Wheat. Growers produced 429 million bushels (11.7 million metric tons) of spring wheat other than durum in 1984, 19 percent less than the 1983 and 22 percent less than the record high in 1982. Yield averaged 35.8 bushels per acre, up 1.8 bushels from the previous record high in 1982. Area harvested totaled 11.9 million acres (4.86 million hectares), up 6 percent from the 11.3 million acres (4.58 million hectares) harvested in 1983. Seeding of the 1984 spring wheat crop was about normal to somewhat earlier than normal in most of the Dakota's and Minnesota. The growing season was characterized by somewhat cooler than normal temperature in Minnesota., North Dakota (eastern) and South Dakota, with little significant rainfall after early June. Western Dakotas and Montana were very dry through the growing season. The dry but cool weather during July and August reduced disease and promoted the record yield recorded in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The 1984 Spring Wheat Crop The Statistical Reporting Service, USDA, reported: SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM Acres (1000) Yield (Bu/A) Bushels (1000) --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- State 1982 1983 1984 1982 1983 1984 1982 1983 1984 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minnesota 3,020 2,030 2,160 40.0 37.0 48.0 120,800 75,110 103,680 Montana 2,900 1,990 2,025 32.0 27.0 18.0 92,800 53,730 36,450 North Dakota 6,900 5,000 5,140 31.0 27.0 34.0 213,900 135,000 181,560 South Dakota 2,350 1,400 1,650 25.0 26.0 34.0 58,750 36,400 56,100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S.A. 16,277 11,314 11,991 34.0 31.7 35.8 552,988 358,541 428,869