UNITED STATES (9 June)
Spring wheat planting was completed on an area estimated to be 4 percent up from last year and the crop is reported to be in mostly fair to good condition. The winter wheat harvest is already underway in the southern states while further to the north it is maturing. Winter wheat output is forecast at some 43 million tonnes, 6 percent up from last year as the area harvested should increase after much lower abandonment and in addition, higher yields are expected. Spring wheat output prospects are still uncertain but assuming trend yields and the recent average ratio of planted-to-harvested area, this year’s crop could be down somewhat from 2004 despite the larger area planted. The country’s aggregate wheat output in 2005 is forecast at 58.2 million tonnes, marginally down from 2004. The bulk of the main coarse grain crop in the United States was sown by late May, somewhat ahead of the average date after a very favourable planting season. However, despite the good start to the season and early indications that the area for harvest will be virtually unchanged this year, production of coarse grains is forecast to decrease somewhat because of lower yields expected after very high levels in 2004. Nevertheless, yields could still be above the average of the past five years. As of May, the aggregate output of coarse grains was forecast at 296.6 million tonnes, about 3 percent down from the previous year. Of the total, maize is expected to account for 279 million tonnes.