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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S.A. 13,687 14,641 13,343 35.3 32.0 33.6 473,907 472,230 448,514