July 10, 2009

Based on July 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2009 winterwheat crop is forecast at 78.2 million bushels, up 9% from last month's forecast and6% above last year's crop, according to the Nebraska Field Office of USDA's NationalAgricultural Statistics Service.

The production increase from last month is a combination ofmore acres for harvest as published in the USDA Acreage Report on June 30 and a largeryield. Average yield is forecast at 48 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last month, 4 bushelsover last year, and equal to the record high in 1999.

Area to be harvested for grain is estimated at 1.63 million acres, unchanged from theAcreage Report but 2% less than last year. Wheat harvest began near the end of June, abouta week behind average.

Oat production is forecast at 1.58 million bushels, down 36% from last year. Acreagefor harvest, at 25,000 acres, is down 29% from 2008. Yield, at 63 bushels per acre, is forecastto be 7 bushels per acre below a year ago.