USDA NASS estimates average winter wheat yield in South Dakota at 54 bushels per acre, total harvest at 34 million bushels

Based on May 1 conditions, South Dakota’s 2021 winter wheat crop is forecast at 34.0 million bushels, down 2% from last year’s crop, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Average yield is forecast at 54 bushels per acre, down 4 bushels from last year.

Acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 630,000 acres, up 30,000 acres from last year. This would be 83% of the planted acres, which is below last year’s 95% harvested.

May 1 hay stocks of 2.20 million tons are down 6% from last year.