WHEAT: U.S. wheat supplies for 2016/17 are projected up 6 percent from 2015/16 on higher beginning stocks and imports. All wheat production is projected at 1,998 million bushels, down 3 percent. The yearto-year decrease is due to a sharp reduction in planted area that more than offsets increased yields. The all wheat yield is projected at 46.7 bushels per acre, up 7 percent from the previous year. The surveybased forecast for 2016/17 winter wheat production is up with higher yields more than offsetting reduced harvested area. Winter wheat has benefited from excellent spring growing conditions and yields are projected higher for Hard Red Winter, Soft Red Winter, and White Winter. Spring wheat and Durum production for 2016/17 is projected to decline 16 percent on lower area, as well as a return to trend yield, which is below last year’s level.
Total U.S. wheat use for 2016/17 is projected up 7 percent from the previous year on higher exports, feed and residual use, and food use. The 2016/17 exports are projected at 875 million bushels, up 95 million bushels from the previous year’s low level but still well below average. Large supplies in several major competing countries will continue to limit U.S. exports. Feed and residual use is projected up 30 million bushels on increased supplies. U.S. ending stocks are projected to rise 51 million bushels from the elevated 2015/16 total to 1,029 million, the highest since the 1987/88 crop year. The all wheat seasonaverage farm price is projected at $3.70 to $4.50 per bushel; the mid-point of this range is the lowest in 11 years.
Global wheat supplies are projected to rise 2 percent from 2015/16 as increased beginning stocks more than offset a decline in production from the previous year’s record. Total wheat production is projected at 727.0 million tons, the second highest total on record. Large crops are expected in most key competing countries and favorable spring growing conditions suggest that yields will be well above trend in the EU, Russia, and Ukraine. Global wheat consumption for 2016/17 is projected slightly higher than in 2015/16 with higher food use more than offsetting a reduction in world wheat feeding. Global import demand for 2016/17 is down from last year’s record, but still very large. Global ending stocks for 2016/17 are projected at a record 257.3 million tons, up 14.4 million from 2015/16.
Source : USDA WASDE