WASHINGTON — U.S. 2010 winter wheat production was forecast at 1,482,364,000 bus, up 2% from 1,458,350,000 bus forecast in May but down 3% from 1,522,718,000 bus in 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its June Crop Production report this morning. (Click here for full U.S.D.A. report.)
The U.S.D.A. production number was above the average of analysts’ pre-report trade expectations, which was near 1,453 million bus.

The U.S.D.A. forecast winter wheat yield at 46.6 bus per acre based on conditions as of June 1, up 0.7 bus from May and up 2.4 bus from 44.2 bus last year. Harvested area was forecast at 31,786,000 acres, unchanged from May but down 8% from 34,485,000 acres a year ago.

Production of hard red winter wheat was forecast at 979,231,000 bus, up 2% from May and up 7% from 919,015,000 bus in 2009, soft red winter at 283,968,000 bus, up slightly from May but down 30% from 403,563,000 bus in 2009, and white winter at 219,165,000 bus, up 2% from May and up 10% from 200,140,000 bus in 2009, including soft white winter at 201,830,000 bus, up 11% from 182,012,000 bus last year, and hard white winter at 17,335,000 bus, down 4% from 18,128,000 bus in 2009.

Total winter durum production in Arizona and California was estimated at 19,715,000 bus, up 4% from May but down 33% from 29,400,000 bus in 2009, the U.S.D.A. said.