Expected winter wheat yield increases in South Dakota; Hay stocks down 50% from last year

Based on May 1, 2022, conditions, South Dakota’s 2022 winter wheat crop is forecast at 32.4 million bushels, up 18% from last year’s crop, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Average yield is forecast at 45 bushels per acre, up 7 bushels from last year.

Acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 720,000 acres, unchanged from last year. This would be 87% of the planted acres, below last year’s 90% harvested.

May 1 hay stocks of 1.09 million tons are down 50% from last year.