WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Wheat production was down in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Illinois; however, Illinois reported record wheat yields, according to the Sept. 1 USDA Small Grains Summary and Grain Stocks Report.

Indiana winter wheat production was down 15 percent from last year on fewer harvested acres and a smaller yield, said State Statistician Nathanial Warenski.

“Winter wheat was planted on 290,000 acres, with 240,000 acres harvested for grain,” he reported. “Indiana wheat yielded 81 bushels per acre in 2022, down 4 bushels from last year.”

Indiana’s wheat stocks were 22.1 million bushels, 15 percent below a year ago, the report said. First quarter indicated disappearance was 5.98 million bushels, compared with 3.47 million bushels last year.

Released Sept. 30, the small grains summary report said nationally, winter wheat production for 2022 totaled 1.1 billion bushels, down 14 percent from the 2021 total of 1.28 billion bushels. The United States yield, at 47 bushels per acre, was down 3.2 bushels from 2021. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 23.5 million acres, down 8 percent from the previous year.

In Illinois the wheat harvested area in 2022 is estimated at 560,000 acres, down 8 percent from the previous year.

The winter wheat yield is estimated at a record 79 bushels per acre the same as 2021. Production is estimated at 44.2 million bushels, down 8 percent from the previous year.

In Ohio, winter wheat averaged 79 bushels per acre this year, down 6 bushels from last year, said State Statistician Cheryl Turner.

“Wheat was planted on 510,000 acres, with 465,000 acres harvested for grain,” she reported. “Wheat production was 36.7 million bushels, down 16 percent from 2021. Dry weather in June pushed wheat maturity well ahead of normal; wheat harvest was nearly complete by mid-July, well ahead of average.”

Ohio wheat stocks were 59.4 million bushels, 3 percent below a year ago, the report said, with the first quarter indicating disappearance was 5.98 million bushels compared with 2.14 million bushels last year.

In Kentucky, farmers harvested 30 million bushels of winter wheat during the summer of 2022, down 1 percent from the previous year, said David Knopf, USDA NASS regional director in Louisville, Ky.

“Yield is estimated at 80 bushels per acre, down 7 bushels from 2021,” he reported. “Farmers seeded 530,000 acres last fall, up 20,000 acres from 2021. Area harvested for grain totaled 375,000 acres. Acres for other uses totaled 155,000 acres and was used as cover crop, cut as hay, chopped for silage, or abandoned.” 

In Michigan, winter wheat averaged 83 bushels per acre this year, up 2 bushels from last year, according to Marlo D. Johnson, USDA Great Lakes Regional Office director.

“Wheat was planted on 460,000 acres, with 415,000 acres harvested for grain,” she reported. “Wheat production was 34.4 million bushels, down 24 percent from 2021. Michigan winter wheat yields were very good in 2022; the second highest on record. The crop harvested well without any difficulties and had very few condition issues.”

Michigan wheat stocks were 36.7 million bushels, 15 percent below a year ago, the report said. First quarter indicated disappearance was 12.7 million bushels, compared with 16.1 million bushels last year.