March 29, 2024

‘I’ wheat yields projected down slightly

WASHINGTON — Illinois and Indiana winter wheat average yields are projected slightly lower than last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first survey-based forecast for 2023-2024.

Illinois’ average yield forecast of 78 bushels per acre is down 1 from 2022, with a projected harvested area of 790,000 acres, 230,000 more than last year.

USDA projected Indiana’s average yield at 77 bushels per acre after last year’s record 81 bushels per acre, and a harvested area of 380,000 acres. The state harvested 240,000 wheat acres in 2022.

Nationwide

U.S. winter wheat production is forecast at 1.13 billion bushels, up 2% from 2022.

As of May 1, the U.S. average yield is forecast at 44.7 bushels per acre, down 2.3 bushels from last year’s average yield of 47 bushels per acre. Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed is forecast at 25.3 million acres, up 8% from last year.

Hard red winter production is estimated at 514 million bushels, down 3% from a year ago.

Soft red winter, at 406 million bushels, is up 21% from 2022.

White winter production is projected at 10 million bushels, down 11% from last year.

Tom Doran

Tom C. Doran

Field Editor