WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — U.S. 2010 all wheat production was forecast at 2,223,523,000 bushels, down 2% from 2,264,928,000 bushels in August but up slightly from 2,218,061,000 bushels in 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its Sept. 30 Small Grains 2010 Summary.

The USDA all wheat production number was below average pre-report trade estimates near 2.267 billion bushels.

All wheat yield was forecast at a record 46.7 bushels an acre, down 0.2 bushels from 46.9 bushels August but up 2.2 bushels from 44.5 bushels an acre in 2009. Harvested area was estimated at 47,657,000 acres, down 606,000 acres from 48,263,000 acres in August and down 2,236,000 acres, or 4%, from 49,893,000 acres a year ago.

Production of spring wheat other than durum was forecast at 626,937,000 bushels, down 1% from 633,245,000 bushels forecast in August, but up 7% from 584,411,000 bushels a year ago and the third largest crop on record. The average yield was forecast at 46.9 bushels an acre, up 0.3 bushels from 46.6 bushels in August, up 1.8 bushels from 45.1 bushels in 2009 and the highest on record. Harvested area was forecast at 13,379,000 acres, down 211,000 acres from August but up 3% from 12,955,000 acres a year ago.

Production of hard red spring wheat was forecast at 580,555,000 bushels, down 2% from 592,611,000 bushels in August but up 6% from 547,933,000 bushels in 2009.

White spring wheat production was forecast at 46,382,000 bushels, up 27% from 36,478,000 bushels in 2009, including soft white at 37,027,000 bushels, up 29%, and hard white at 9,355,000 bushels, up 19%, from 2009.

Durum outturn was forecast at 111,350,000 bushels, up 2% from 108,781,000 bushels in August and up 2% from 109,042,000 bushels in 2009. Durum average yield was forecast at 44 bushels an acre, up 2 bushels from 42 bushels in August but down 0.9 bushels from a record high 44.9 bushels in 2009 and the second highest on record, the USDA said.

The USDA estimated winter wheat production at 1,485,236,000 bushels, down 3% from 1,522,902,000 bushels in August and down 3% from 1,524,608,000 bushels in 2009. The USDA estimated winter wheat yield at 46.8 bushels an acre, down 0.7 bushels from 47.5 bushels in August, up 2.6 bushels from 44.2 bushels last year and the fourth highest on record. Harvested area was 31,749,000 acres, down 336,000 acres from 32,085,000 acres in August and down 8% from 34,510,000 acres a year ago.

Hard red winter wheat production was estimated at 1,018,337,000 bushels, down 1% from 1,029,288,000 bushels in August but up 11% from 919,939,000 bushels in 2009.

Soft red winter production was estimated at 237,804,000 bushels, down 9% from 260,013,000 bushels in August, down 41% from 403,984,000 bushels in 2009 and down 61% from 613,578,000 acres in 2008. If realized, 2010 outturn would be the lowest since 188,920,000 bushels in 1978.

White winter wheat outturn was estimated at 229,095,000 bushels, down 2% from 233,601,000 bushels in August but up 14% from 200,685,000 bushels in 2009, including soft white at 215,599,000 bushels, up 18% from last year, and hard white at 13,496,000 bushels, down 26%.

USDA wheat by class estimates were all below average pre-report trade estimates except for durum.

The USDA estimated 2010 oats production at 81,855,000 bushels, down 6% from 87,239,000 bushels in August, down 12% from 93,081,000 bushels in 2009 and the lowest on record. Harvested area was forecast at 1,268,000 acres, down 4% from August, down 8% from 2009 and also the lowest on record.

Barley production in 2010 was estimated at 181,884,000 bushels, down 1% from August and down 20% from 227,323,000 bushels in 2009. Harvested area was 2,471,000 acres, down 21% from 2009 and the lowest since 1882.

Rye outturn in 2010 was estimated at 7,431,000 bushels, up 6% from 6,993,000 bushels a year ago. Harvested area was 265,000 acres, up 5% from 252,000 acres in 2009.