WASHINGTON, DC, US — The US Department of Agriculture on Aug. 12 raised its forecast for all-wheat production in 2020 to 1.838 billion bushels, up 1%, from the July forecast but down 85.502 million bushels, or 4%, from 1.920 billion bushels. The increase from July was based on higher forecasts for spring wheat and durum production, which more than offset a smaller estimated winter wheat outturn.

The USDA forecast the production of spring wheat other than durum at 577,485 million bushels, up 5% from the previous projection and up 3% from 562.38 million bushels in 2019. Other-spring wheat yield was forecast at a record 49 bushels per acre, up 2.4 bushels per acre from the July projection and up 0.8 bushels per acre in 2019. Hard red spring wheat production was forecast at 529.683 million bushels, up 5% from the July outlook and up 8.126 million bushels, or 2%, from 521.557 million bushels in 2019.

The 2020 durum outturn was projected at 61.79 million bushels, up 11% from the July forecast and up 8.034 million bushels, or 15%, from 53.756 million bushels in 2019.

The USDA estimated the winter wheat crop at 1.198 billion bushels, down 2% from the July forecast and down 105.671 million bushels, or 8%, from 1.304 billion bushels in 2019.

The USDA estimated the hard red winter wheat crop at 695.365 million bushels, down 2% from the July forecast and down 17% from 833.181 million bushels in 2019.

The USDA estimated the soft red winter wheat crop at 276.882 million bushels, down 1% from the July forecast but up 16% from 239.166 million bushels in 2019. The soft white winter wheat crop was estimated at 211.557 million bushels, down 136,000 bushels from the July forecast and down 145,000 bushels from 211.702 million bushels in 2019.