07/13/06 Spud acres up; so are spring wheat yields

Washington Ag July 13, 2006 The Washington Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service yesterday put out the first estimate of planted potato acreage and deputy director Joe Parsons says its up one percent from last year. Parsons: "Washington growers planted an estimated 156-thousand acres in 2006, two-thousand more than in 2005, but four-thousand acres below the 2004 crop. The entire 2006 crop is expected to be harvested." Idaho's potato acreage is up two percent from last year while Oregon's is down six percent. Nationally fall potato acreage is up two percent from 2005 but five percent below 2004. Parsons says the first estimate for the state's spring wheat shows a bigger crop than last year due in part to more acres. Parsons: "Spring wheat production is estimated at 22.8 million bushels. That's 22% above last year. The yield based on July 1 conditions is estimated at 50 bushels an acre. That's six bushels above last year." Washington's winter wheat crop is forecast at 120.6 million bushels, the same as 2005, based on yields of 67 bushels. I'm Bob Hoff.