NEWS RELEASE

                  United States Department of Agriculture

                  NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

                           VIRGINIA FIELD OFFICE

            102 Governor Street, Room LL20, Richmond, VA  23219

       FOR IMMEDIATE  RELEASE                                        Contact: Kevin Barnes
                                        Number   15
       September 29, 2006                                           (800) 772-0670
       

                   VIRGINIA'S WHEAT AND OAT PRODUCTION UP FROM 2005

      Virginia(s wheat production was up from last year, according to the USDA/NASS Virginia Field Office.
      These results were based on a survey of producers conducted in early September. Wheat production 
      for 2006 totaled over 10.5 million bushels, up 5 percent from last year. Wheat acreage harvested 
      was 155,000 acres, down 5,000 acres from 2005.   Producers averaged a record 68 bushels per acre,
      up 5 bushels per acre from last year.  Although the growing season was some what dry, rains came 
      at the critical time.
                                       
     The survey indicated that final oat production for the 2006 crop year was 220,000 bushels, up 20 
     percent from last year.  Oat yields averaged 55 bushels per acre, down 6 bushels from last year.
   	
      Barley producers averaged 77 bushels per acre, down 10 bushels from 2005. Barley production is 
      estimated at 3.2 million bushels harvested from 42,000 acres.  This compares to 3.9 million 
      bushels and 45,000 acres harvested last year.
   
         	

                     Small Grains 2006 Summary

      All U.S Wheat production totals 1.81 billion bushels in 2006, up 1 percent from the last forecast
      but 14 percent below 2005.  Grain area is 46.8 million acres, down 7 percent from last year. 
      The U.S. yield is 38.7 bushels per acre, up 0.4 bushel from August but down 3.3 bushels from 
      last year.  The level of production and change from last year by type are: winter wheat, 
      1.30 billion bushels, down 13 percent; other spring wheat, 460 million bushels, down 9 percent; 
      Durum wheat, 53.5 million bushels, down 47 percent.

      All U.S. Oat production is estimated at a record low 93.8 million bushels, 13 percent below the 
      August 1 forecast and 18 percent below last year's 115 million bushels.  The estimated yield is 
      59.5 bushels per acre, up 3.2 bushels from August but down 3.5 bushels from a year ago.  Compared 
      with last year, yields declined in nearly all States except for those in the eastern Great Lakes 
      region, Ohio Valley, and the Pacific Northwest.  Harvested area is a record low 1.58 million acres,
       17 percent below the August 1 forecast and 14 percent below last year.

      All U.S. Barley production is estimated at 180 million bushels, down 2 percent from the August 1 
      forecast and down 15 percent from last year.  Average yield per acre, at 61.0 bushels, is down 
      0.2 bushel from the previous forecast and 3.8 bushels below 2005.  The area harvested for grain 
      is estimated at 2.95 million acres, down 1 percent from August and 10 percent below a year ago. 
      Area harvested for grain is the lowest since 1885, while production is the lowest since 1936. 
      Harvested area is down in most States, including the four States with the largest acreage.  
      Acreage harvested is down 90,000 in Idaho, 80,000 in Montana, 65,000 in North Dakota, and 15,000 
      in Washington.  Production is down throughout the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, partly due 
      to the decreased acreage, but also because yields are down in these areas due to dry conditions
      during most of the growing season.  However, yields are higher than last year in the Pacific 
      Northwest, Corn Belt, Ohio River Valley, and most Atlantic Coast States.

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