US Crop Estimates May Ease Fears About Wet Harvest

BLAKE NICHOLSON

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Newly released estimates for U.S. wheat, corn and soybean crops may put to rest fears that a wet harvest season in many parts of the country could cut into production.

Late-season rains had delayed harvest of small grains in many areas, raising concerns about whether farmers' record crops might die in the fields. But U.S. Department of Agriculture crop estimates released Tuesday show little change over the past month, and analysts now expect little — if any — changes in prices for either farmers or consumers.

The crop estimates "came mostly within expectations," said John Sanow, an analyst with the Omaha, Neb.-based market information company DTN.

Estimated U.S. spring wheat production is down less than 1 percent from the Sept. 30 estimate and durum wheat production is down 1 percent. Total production of all types of wheat is virtually unchanged, at 2.22 billion bushels.

U.S. production of both oats and barley also is almost unchanged from September, and the new figures for corn and soybeans vary only slightly from the Oct. 9 report.