By Blake Jackson
Kentucky farmers are anticipating a winter wheat harvest of 30.7 million bushels in 2024, as reported by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. This projection marks a 24% decrease from the previous year.
The forecast, based on crop conditions assessed as of June 1, remains unchanged from the May estimate. The expected yield is set at 83.0 bushels per acre, down 5.0 bushels compared to 2023, with no change from the May forecast.
Last fall, farmers planted 560,000 acres of winter wheat across the state. Of these, 370,000 acres are designated for grain harvesting, while the remaining 190,000 acres will serve other agricultural purposes such as cover crops for tobacco or forage crops like silage or hay.
As of June 2, reports indicate that Kentucky's winter wheat crop is predominantly in good condition, reflecting favorable growth and development factors leading up to the harvest period. Despite the projected decrease in yield compared to the previous year, the state's farmers remain optimistic about the quality and potential of the 2024 winter wheat harvest.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ygrek
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Wheat