July 11, 2008

Based on July 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2008 winterwheat crop is forecast at 71.4 million bushels, down 10% from last month's forecast and 15% below last year's crop, according to the Nebraska Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The production decline from last month is a combination offewer acres as published in the Acreage Report released on June 30, and a smaller yield. Average yield is forecast at 42 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from last month and last year.

Area to be harvested for grain is estimated at 1.7 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage Report but 13% less than last year. Wheat harvest began after July 1, about a week and a half behind last year and average.

Oat production is forecast at 2.76 million bushels, up 16% from last year. Acreage for harvest, at 40,000 acres, is up 14% from 2007. Yield, at 69 bushels per acre, is forecast to be one bushel per acre above a year ago.