SPRING WHEAT PRODUCTION
SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM
Growers produced an estimated 558 million bushels (16.7 million metric
tons), down 19 percent from the 1996 production and up 5 percent from 1995.
Yield averaged 30 bushels per acre, down 5 bushels per acre from 1996. Area
harvested totaled 18.7 million acres (7.6 million hectares), 4 percent less
than the 19.5 million acres (7.9 million hectares) in 1996.
Seeding of the spring wheat ranged from early in some of the drier areas
to later than normal in the Red River Valley. The early seeded wheat
encountered reasonably good growing conditions until wet weather in late
June and July, but August and September were normal in Minnesota and the
eastern portions of North Dakota. Fusarium head blight attacked wheat in
Northeaster North Dakota and in Northwestern Minnesota, including Manitoba,
Canada. The results were devastating for both yield and quality of the
grain. Wheat in the northern Red River Valley which were earlier seeded
were most heavily attacked by scab with much of the later planted wheat
escaping with minor damage. Other leaf diseases were present in epidemic
proportions in some areas. Loss estimates from scab due to decreased yield
and quality to the wheat crop were estimated to be hundreds of millions of
dollars.
SPRING WHEAT OTHER THAN DURUM
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Acres (1000) Yield (Bu/A) Bushels (1000)
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1995 1996 1997 1995 1996 1997 1995 1996 1997
Minnesota 2,250 2,400 2,400 32.0 42.0 33.0 70,400 100,800 78,800
Montana 3,750 4,100 4,200 35.0 26.0 29.0 127,750 106,600 121,800
No. Dakota 8,300 9,500 8,400 27.0 33.0 25.0 277,400 313,500 210,000
So. Dakota 1,250 2,250 2,400 28.0 37.0 28.0 33,600 83,250 66,200
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USA 16,815 19,500 18,657 32.2 35.1 29.9 530,689 687,775 557,500