May 11, 2010

Based on May 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2010 winter wheat crop is forecast at 69.0 million bushels, down 10% from last year’s crop, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field office. Average yield is forecast at 46 bushels per acre, down 2 bushels from last year’s record high but 5 bushels above the 10-year average.

Acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 1.50 million acres, down 100,000 acres or 6% from last year. This would be 94% of the planted acres, the same harvest percentage as last year and the 10-year average. The May 2 wheat condition was rated 74% good to excellent, above both last year and average. Crop development was about one week behind normal due to cool temperatures during April. As of May 2, subsoil moisture supplies were well above last year and the five-year average.

May 1 hay stocks of 1.0 million tons are up 7% from last year but 9% below the 10-year average.

Access the National publication for this release at
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProd//2010s/2010/CropProd-05-11-2010.pdf