Crop Production – July 2014 – Colorado Highlights

Based on July 1 conditions, winter wheat production in Colorado is forecast at 86.4 million bushels, down 3 percent from the June 1 forecast but 95 percent above the 44.3 million bushels produced last year. Estimated acreage for harvest, at 2.40 million acres, is down 150,000 acres from June 1, but 760,000 acres more than the 1.64 million acres harvested in 2013. As of July 1, the average yield is forecast at 36.0 bushels per acre, 1.0 bushel above the June 1 forecast, and 9.0 bushels above last year’s final yield.

As of June 29, Colorado’s winter wheat crop condition was rated 27 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 31 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Winter wheat harvested was at 5 percent, compared with 6 percent last year and the 5-year average of 22 percent.

Barley production is forecast at 7.50 million bushels, down 3 percent from the 2013 crop. Area harvested is expected to total 60,000 acres, up 2,000 acres from the 58,000 acres harvested last year. Barley yield is forecast at 125.0 bushels per acre, 8.0 bushels per acre below last year.

As of June 29, Colorado’s barley crop condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 27 percent excellent. Barley headed was at 37 percent, compared with 58 percent last year and the 5-year average of 57 percent.

UNITED STATES HIGHLIGHTS 

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.37 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the June 1 forecast and down 11 percent from 2013. Based on July 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 42.2 bushels per acre, down 0.2 bushel from last month and down 5.2 bushels from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 32.4 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 30, 2014 but up slightly from last year.

Hard Red Winter production, at 703 million bushels, is down 2 percent from last month.

Soft Red Winter, at 458 million bushels, is up 1 percent from the June forecast. White Winter, at 206 million bushels, is up slightly from last month. Of the White Winter production, 10.6 million bushels are Hard White and 196 million bushels are Soft White.

Production for the 2014 barley crop is forecast at 187 million bushels, down 13 percent from 2013. Based on conditions as of July 1, the average yield for the United States is forecast at 71.2 bushels per acre, down 0.5 bushel from last year.

Area harvested for grain or seed, at 2.63 million acres, is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 12 percent from 2013. When compared with last year, yields are expected to decrease throughout much of the United States due to drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest and wet conditions in the Midwest and Northeast. Conversely, adequate moisture in the northern and central Rocky Mountains have lead to expected yield increases in Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

For a full copy of the Crop Production report please visit www.nass.usda.gov