June 15, 2007

Nebraska's 2007 winter wheat crop should be up 27% from last year, at 77 million bushels, according to USDA estimates based on June 1 conditions. Average yield is forecast at 42 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel from last month and 6 bushels from last year.

Acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 1.85 million acres, unchanged from last month but up 9% from last year.

Precipitation since the first of April has enabled soil profile recharge in most southern wheat-growing areas, while portions of the Panhandle remain below normal. As of June 3, crop conditions rated 57% good and excellent compared to 21% a year earlier. Crop development was a week ahead of normal at 91% headed.

USDA's National Agricultural Statistic Service
Nebraska Field Office