By Blake Jackson
Kentucky farmers are anticipating a winter wheat harvest of approximately 31.6 million bushels in 2024, marking a 22% decline from the previous year's production.
This forecast, provided by the Kentucky Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, is based on crop conditions assessed as of July 1.
The expected yield per acre stands at 77.0 bushels, reflecting a decrease of 11.0 bushels compared to 2023. Last fall, farmers seeded 560,000 acres, with plans to harvest grain from 410,000 acres.
Nationally, winter wheat production is projected at 1.34 billion bushels for 2024, an increase of 4% from earlier forecasts and 7% higher than the previous year.
The United States' yield is estimated at 52.0 bushels per acre, up 0.6 bushels from June predictions and 1.4 bushels higher than last year.
The total area expected to be harvested for grain or seed across the country amounts to 25.8 million acres, reflecting a 5% increase compared to the previous year.
These insights highlight both the challenges faced by Kentucky farmers in 2024 and the broader national trends shaping winter wheat production across the United States.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dleonis
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Government & Policy