The U.S.D.A. production number was above analysts’ pre-report trade expectations, which averaged near 1,434 million bus. It was the first U.S.D.A. survey-based crop production forecast of winter wheat for the 2010 season.
The U.S.D.A. forecast winter wheat yield at 45.9 bus per acre based on conditions as of May 1, up 1.7 bus from 44.2 bus last year. Harvested area was forecast at 31,786,000 acres, down 2,699,000 acres, or 8%, from 34,485,000 acres a year ago.
Production of hard red winter wheat was forecast at 960,383,000 bus, up 41,368,000 bus, or 5%, from 919,015,000 bus in 2009, soft red winter at 283,464,00 bus, down 120,099,000 bus, or 30%, from 403,563,000 bus, and white winter at 214,503,000 bus, up 14,368,000 bus, or 7%, from 200,140,000 bus, including soft white winter at 197,493,000 bus, up 15,481,000 bus, or 9%, from 182,012,000 bus, and hard white winter at 17,010,000 bus, down 1,118,000 bus, or 6%, from 18,128,000 bus in 2009.
Total winter durum production in Arizona and California was estimated at 18,925,000 bus, down 10,475,000 bus, or 36%, from 29,400,000 bus in 2009, the U.S.D.A. said.
