This year’s wheat yield sets a new U.S. record

WASHINGTON — USDA’s recent Wheat Outlook report showed that all-wheat yield in the U.S. has hit a new record at 44.9 bushels per acre. This yield was up 1.4 bushels from the last forecast released and up 4.4 bushels from the previous year’s data.

The previous record yield of 44.2 bushels per acre was achieved in 2003.

From crop years 1998-1999 to 2007-2008, average yield was 41.2 bushels per acre.

Essential

Yield is an essential component to profitability on the farm and has received increased focus from the National Association of Wheat Growers. One of the association’s four strategic initiatives for the coming years is to increase yields for U.S. growers by 20 percent by 2018.

Using 2007-2008 yields as a base measure, this would mean a yield achievement of about 48.6 bushels per acre by 2018.

This year’s yield increase contributes to an estimated 2008 total U.S. wheat production of 2.5 billion bushels.