According to the latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report, winter wheat production in Wisconsin is projected to decline by 9 percent compared to the previous year. The forecast stands at 17.0 million bushels, with a yield of 71.0 bushels per acre, down 7.0 bushels from last year. Despite these setbacks, Wisconsin winter wheat growers plan to harvest 240,000 acres of grain, unchanged from 2022.
Nationally, winter wheat production is expected to increase by 2 percent, reaching 1.13 billion bushels. However, the United States' average yield is anticipated to decline to 44.7 bushels per acre, down 2.3 bushels from the previous year. The area to be harvested for grain or seed is forecasted to rise by 8 percent to 25.3 million acres.
In addition to the winter wheat outlook, the report also highlights a decline in hay stocks. Wisconsin farms recorded a decrease of 11 percent, with an estimated 560,000 tons stored as of May 1, 2023, compared to the same period last year. Nationally, hay stocks dropped by 13 percent to 14.5 million tons, representing the second lowest level since 1950.
The reduced hay stocks pose challenges for farmers. Disappearance from December 1, 2022, to May 1, 2023, was 57.4 million tons nationally, which is down 8 percent from the previous year.
The complete USDA NASS report provides detailed insights into the winter wheat production forecast, hay stock levels, and disappearance rates. These findings indicate potential difficulties for Wisconsin farmers due to lower winter wheat yields and a significant decline in hay stocks at the national level, which may impact feed availability and prices in the coming months.
For the full report, please visit the USDA NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications.
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Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Wheat, Hay & Forage