Michigan Winter Wheat Production and Hay Stocks

Michigan wheat growers expect to have lower yields on fewer acres planted this year, due to concerns about the effect of the harsh winter on the wheat crop, according to Jay Johnson, director of the USDA, NASS, Great Lakes Regional Office. Michigan producers expect to harvest 510,000 acres, down 90,000 acres from last year. Wheat production in the State is expected to be 35.2 million bushels. The yield forecast of 69 bushels would be 6 bushels below the previous year.

U.S. Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.40 billion bushels, down 9 percent from 2013. As of May 1, the United States yield is forecast at 43.1 bushels per acre, down 4.3 bushels from last year.

Hay stocks on Michigan farms on May 1, 2014 were 270,000 tons, up 93% from this time last year. May 1, 2014 stocks were significantly higher this year due to a better hay crop in 2013 than in 2012, which produced a record low winter carry on May 1, 2013.

All hay stored on United States farms May 1, 2014 totaled 19.2 million tons, up 35 percent from a year ago. This is the third lowest May 1 stocks level since 1989. Disappearance from December 1, 2013 - May 1, 2014 totaled 70.1 million tons, compared with 62.4 million tons for the same period a year earlier.

Crop Summary, May 2014