crop production

Release:
December 22, 1971
3:00 P.M. EST

HIGHLIGHTS OF WINTER WHEAT REPORT AS OF DECEMBER 1, 1971 »

Seeding of winter wheat. in the fall of 1971 for harvest in 1972, at 42.2
million acres, was 9 percent (3.5 million) above the previous year and 10
percent (3.9 million) above 2 years earlier,

Prospective 1972 winter wheat production at 1,291 million bushels is
record high and 11 percent (128 million) above the 1971 crop,

WINTER WHEAT
3 Crop : Crop : Crop
ITEM : of : of : of
: 1970 : 1972 : 1972 1/
Acreage seeded for all purposes +
(1,000 acres) : 38,350 38,698 42,239
Yield per seeded acre (bu.) : 29.0 30.1 30.6
Production (1,000 bu.) : 1,110,290 1,163,420 1,291,428
Seedings as % of previous year: 89.0 100.9 109.2
Harvested for grain (percent) : 86.8 85.4 89.4

1/ Indicated December 1, 1971.

CROP REPORTING BOARD:
B. M. Graham, Chaimnan,
. M. L. Koehn, Secretary,
CL PS) B. B. W. Kelly, Cc. E. Burkhead,
. bby c. 0. Palmer, DBD. N. Taylor,
R. C, Max, Jr., G. D. Hasenmyer,
ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE C. P. Miles, Jr.

APPROVED:

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE CROP REPORTING BOARD
\ CrPr 2-3 (12-71) WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250 JS



Fall seeding of winter wheat in 1971 for harvest in 1972 at 42.2 million acres was 9 percent
more than the 1971 crop and LO percent above the 1970 crop seeding. Planted acres were up in all
major producing States. Five States -- Minnesota, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Cali-
fornia -~ recorded declines from a year earlier, This is the first winter wheat crop to be
planted under provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1970 which became law after virtually all
seeding for 1971 harvest had been completed.

The 1972 prospective winter wheat crop based on conditions as of December 1 is a record
1,291 million bushels. This would be 11 percent more than the 1971 crop and 16 percent above the
1970 production. The previous record high was 1,235 million bushels in 1968. Condition of the
crop on December 1 was mostly good to excellent.’ In the past decade, changes from the December
1 forecast to the final estimates have averaged 67 million bushels -- from 3 to 123 million
bushels.

Yield per seeded acre at 30.6 bushels is record high, 0.5 bushel above the 1971 yield and
1.6 bushels above 1970, December 1 conditions indicate 89.4 percent of the seeded acreage will
be harvested for grain compared with 85.4 for the 1971 crop and 86.8 percent in 1970.

Seeding of the 1972 Kansas wheat crop got off to a slow start in early September because of
limited soil moisture in the early seeded western area of the State, but late September rains
permitted rapid progress. Some north central localities remained quite dry which slowed planting
and growth and wet fields delayed seeding in the southeast, Condition of wheat and stands on
December 1 was mostly good to excellent, and top growth was more abundant than usual. Wheat
pastures in the western two-thirds of the State‘were providing the best grazing in recent years.

Nebraska growers cormenced seeding in western areas in late August, about the usual date,
under favorable moisture conditions which were maintained throughout the fall. However, dry
conditions in eastern areas slowed planting and many growers ended up seeding in dry soils. Late
October rains improved moisture conditions and unseasonally warm temperatures in November allowed
good germination. The crop in western areas is in very good to excellent condition and good to
very good elsewhere in the State. Generally adequate growth had been attained.

Seeding in Colorado was virtually completed by the first week in October. Soil moisture was
short at the start of the planting season but mid-September rains were very beneficial. The crop
entered winter in excellent condition as excellent stands were attained and plant growth has been
sufficient to provide ground cover.

Oklahoma growers had virtually all their winter wheat in by mid-October. The crop got off
to a good start. Wheat pastures were furnishing the best grazing in years. Like most other
Plains areas, the planting season started off dry but after mid-September, soil moisture supplies
were adequate to surplus. All of the Oklahoma crop is currently in good to excellent condition.

The Texas crop was nearly all seeded by mid-November after having been delayed by wet fields.
Wheat was progressing well around December 1 and soil moisture was adequate, This was in sharp
contrast to a year earlier when moisture shortages retarded the crop in Texas and the Oklahoma
Panhandle.

Seeding started slowly in Montana but was completed on schedule. Soil moisture shortages
and cool weather in major growing areas resulted in spotty stands.

Substantial rainfall in September in the Pacific Northwest was beneficial. Planting in
Washington was nearly complete by November 1. Late seedings were slow to emerge and many fields
had less growth than desired. However, most fields have uniform stands and reportedly good to
excellent condition. Oregon and Idaho plantings were up to good stands and entered the winter in
good condition.

Seeding in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana progressed ahead of a year earlier. Winter wheat
in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois grew well because of adequate moisture and a mild fall, Some
growers expressed concern about more growth than desired for entering the winter. Seeding in the
Southeastern States was delayed by wet weather and late harvest of com and soybeans. The Gulf
States experienced dry weather but rains around December 1 were very beneficial.

WINTER WHEAT, December 197]. 2 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA



Winter Wheat

Acreage seeded 1/ : Production
state crop crop ? crop ¢ re et crop Crop crop
of of + of ‘ * of ot of
1970 a7 yore) PF E970 1971 iste 2/
T,000 acres Percent 1,000 bushe Is

N.Y. 165 Bt 175 124 6,579 5,200 6,825
Neg. 42 4. 46 15 1,216 1,552 1,656
Pa. 310 295 316 107 9,8" 10,296 10, 7h
ohio 94 1,008 2,104 110 35,987 42,674 kb, 260
Ind. + 805 TEL 953 122 29,799 33,075 40,026
m2. 1,037 1,027 1,212 118 35, THE 43,252 9,692
Mich. : 584 590 675 as 22,035 20,520 25,650
Wis. : aT 30 32 10T 1,189 1,2h8
Minn. : al 33 32 ok 594 868 806
Iowa : 43 40 46 115 1,400 1,332 1,518
Mo. t 1,059 oth 1,072 110 31,222 Be, Bey 36,434
N. Dek. : 8 82 87 107 1,248 2,040 2,175
S. Dak. 599 642 801 25 14,098 19,908 25,632
Yebr. 2,69 2,64y 2,856 108 97,204 107,436 1, 960
Kens, 9,690 9,593 10,100 105 299,013 312,605 313,100
Tel. 23 27 ar 100 798 975 18
Ma. 125 220 126 105 4,181 4, boo 4 bio
Va. : 180 212 233 110 7,260 8, 360 9,320
W. Va. t 17 16 18 3 462 hag 486
N.C. : ay 38 290 o2 8,514 11,620 10,440
8. C. 86 13h ko 104 2,835 5,040 5,180
Ga. 115 ake 290 220 3,600 8,170 9,860
Fla. 45 ad 70 91 1,102 2,010 1,750
Ky. 219 aky 301 122 6,120 7,600 9,331
Tenn. 257 290 331 11h 7,378 8,750 10,261
Ala. 3 aT 164 361 8 2,324 3,480 3,220
Mies. : 164 203 233 115 44,930 5,130 6,524
Ark. : 418 368 397 108 10,725 9,639 10,322
Le. Bb 8 * lio par oor 2,035 1,320
Okla. 4,875 4,875 5,34 109 B,202 69,500 127, 536
Texas 3,47 3,512 3,652 104 5h, 408 31,416 65,736
Vout. 1,68 L933 2,383 ne 4,796 54,810 57,861
Idaho 790 766 889 116 33,258 35,752 49,005
Wyo. 231 229 275 120 5, 68k 6,732 7,150
Colo. 2,829 2,740 2,087 109 65,550 69,552 62, 727
N. Mex. 297 WT 378 109 5,152 4,000 6,426
Ariz. : 166 189 189 100 10,350 11, 764 12,285
Utah : 187 183 205 2 Tals 5,046 51535
Nev. : 20 7 7 200 630 450 4uB
Wash. : 2,305 2,284 2,672 yz 9h, 500 109,900 112, 228
Oreg. : 703 731 863 18 26,404 32,016 32,794
Calif. 559 koe 433 88 21,525 19,565 17,753
ue Ss. 38, 350 38,698 42,239 109.2 1,110,290 1,163,420 1,291,428

1/ Total acreage seeded for all purposes.

WINTER WHEAT, December 1971 3

2/ Indicated December 1, 1971.

Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA