Bushel hike in winter wheat yield estimates

WASHINGTON — Illinois and Indiana statewide average winter wheat yield estimates were each bumped up by a bushel from last month in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s July 12 crop production report.

USDA increased the Illinois average projection to 83 bushels per acre, 4 lower than the 2023 average. The estimated harvested area of 700,000 acres, 80,000 below a year ago, is anticipated to produce 58.1 million bushels.

Indiana’s projected average of 87 bushels per acre is 5 below last year’s record. The 250,000 harvested winter wheat acres is expected to produce 21.75 million bushels. Indiana harvested 335,000 wheat acres in 2023.

Nationwide

U.S. winter wheat production is forecast at 1.34 billion bushels, up 4% from the previous forecast and 8% above 2023 in comparable states.

Based on July 1 conditions, the nation’s yield is forecast at 52 bushels per acre, up 0.6 bushel from last month and 1.5 bushels higher than last year’s average yield.

Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 25.8 million acres, unchanged from the acreage report released on June 28, but up 5% from last year.

Record high yields are forecast for 2024 in Michigan, at 89 bushels per acre; Missouri, 70; Pennsylvania, 77; and Wisconsin, 79.