Washington farmers expected to harvest larger winter wheat crop
Washington Ag May 12, 2010 Farmers in Washington are forecast to harvest more acres of winter wheat this year with higher yields compared to 2009. The Washington Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service issued its first estimate of production yesterday based on conditions as of May 1st. Linda Simpson with the Washington Field Office has details. Simpson: “Growers expect to combine 70-thousand more acres of winter wheat this year than last year. The average yield of 61 bushels acre is two bushels above last year‘s average yield. If realized this production would eight percent above the 2009 crop.” The Statistics Service says a cool, wet spring in the Pacific Northwest has caused crop development to be behind the five year average. For example, just two percent of Washington winter wheat was headed at the start of this week compared to the five year average for this time of seven percent. Most of the winter wheat grown in Washington is soft white winter wheat and nationally the production of that class is forecast to increase nine percent from 2009. Although Washington farmers may have more wheat to sell in 2010 they could see lower prices. The USDA’s national average price for this year’s crop is forecast at $4.60 a bushel, down 30 cents from 2009. In its latest short term energy outlook the U.S. Energy Information Administration is forecasting on-road diesel to average $3.05 a gallon this year, up from $2.46 in 2009 and rising to $3.20 in 2011. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ?
