SPRING WHEAT PRODUCTION
 
 Spring Wheat Other Than Durum.
 
 Growers produced an estimated 687.8 million bushels (20.6 million metric
 tons), up 29 percent from the 1995 production and up 22 percent from 1994.
 Yield averaged 35 bushels per acre, up about 3 bushels per acre from 1994
 and 1995. Area harvested totaled 19.5 million acres (7.5 million hectares),
 16 percent greater than the 16.8 million acres (6.3 million hectares) in
 1995 and 7 percent greater than in 1994.
 
 Seeding of the 1996 spring wheat was rather late in most eastern areas of
 the growing region. Temperatures were much below average in April and May,
 but about normal in June and July in the eastern growing area (eastern
 Dakotas and Minnesota). Scab again caused severe losses to producers in the
 north central part of North Dakota and in the northwestern portion of
 Minnesota. The production areas affected by this disease were smaller than
 in previous years and losses.
 
 
                         The 1996 Spring Wheat Crop
                                      
        The Statistical Reporting Service, USDA, preliminary report:
                                      
                        SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM
 
 
                        Acres (1000) Yield (Bu/A)  Bushels (1000)
 
  State
                  1994   1995    1996   1994   1995  1996    1994    1995    1996
 
 Minnesota       2,600  2,250   2,400   28.0   32.0  42.0   70,000   70,400 100,800
 
 Montana         3,450  3,750   4,100   30.0   35.0  26.0  100,500  127,750 106,600
 
 North Dakota    9,100  8,300   9,500   31.0   27.0  33.0  278,775  277,400 313,500
 
 South Dakota    2,100  1,250   2,250   26.0   28.0  37.0   51,480   33,600  83,250
 
 U.S.A.         18,329 16,815  19,500   31.8   32.2  35.1  562,291  530,689 687,775