Durum seeded area was estimated at 2,203,000 acres, down 20,000 acres, or 1%, from March but up 834,000 acres, or 61%, from 1,369,000 acres in 2011. Durum area for harvest was estimated at 2,122,000 acres, up 810,000 acres, or 62%, from 1,312,000 acres in 2011.
Area seeded to spring wheat other than durum was estimated at 11,995,000 acres, up 19,000 acres from March intentions but down 399,000 acres, or 3%, from 12,394,000 acres in 2011. Area intended for harvest was estimated at 11,681,000 acres, down 398,000 acres, or 3%, from 12,079,000 acres in 2011. Total hard red spring wheat planted area was estimated at 11.4 million acres, the USDA said.
Winter wheat planted area was estimated at 41,819,000 acres, up 1,173,000 acres, or 3%, from 40,646,000 acres a year ago. Harvested area was estimated at 35,023,000 acres, down 557,000 acres, or 2%, from 35,580,000 acres in the June Crop Production report but up 2,709,000 acres, or 8%, from 32,314,000 acres in 2011. Area planted to hard red winter wheat was 30 million acres, to soft red winter was 8.3 million acres and to white winter was 3.5 million acres, the USDA said.
All wheat planted area was estimated at 56,017,000 acres, up 109,000 acres from 55,908,000 acres indicated in March and up 1,608,000 acres, or 3%, from 54,409,000 acres a year ago. Harvest area was estimated at 48,826,000 acres, up 3,121,000 acres, or 7%, from 45,705,000 acres a year ago.
USDA planting estimate for spring wheat, durum and all wheat were below average trade expectations.
