Michigan's first wheat production forecast of 2012 indicates a slightly smaller yield than last year according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Michigan wheat growers expect to harvest 540,000 acres, down 140,000 acres from last year.

Michigan winter wheat yield is forecast at 74 bushels per acre, down a bushel from last year. Wheat production in the state is expected to total nearly 40 million bushels.

Wheat condition was rated 66% good to excellent on April 30. Most growers were able to take advantage of the early spring to apply herbicides and top dress nitrogen in a timely fashion. Growers reported little winter kill.  

Michigan Wheat Production Forecast Is Down

U.S.  winter  wheat  production  is  forecast  at  1.69  billion  bushels,  up  13% from  2011.  The  area  expected  to  be harvested for grain or seed totals 35.6 million acres, up 10% from last year.

Based on May 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 47.6 bushels per acre, up 1.4 bushels from last year.

Hay stocks in Michigan on May 1, 2012 were 360,000 tons, down 14.3% from this time last year. 

U.S. hay stocks on May 1, 2012 totaled 21.4 million tons, down 4% from a year ago. Disappearance from December 1, 2011-May 1, 2012 totaled 69.3 million tons, compared with 79.9 million tons for the same period a year ago. This is the smallest disappearance since 1985.

Compared with last year, hay stocks as a percent of production increased across much

of the Northern Tier and in many Eastern States. On-farm hay stocks declined from last year in a number of Great Plain States,  as  prolonged  drought  conditions  hampered  pasture  growth  and  forced  many  livestock  producers  to  feed  an increased amount of hay to their herds.