Farmland in drought-stricken Minnesota and across the nation is producing less oats and wheat, although barley yields in Minnesota are up, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service announced Monday, July 12.
In Minnesota, farmers are expected to harvest 40 bushels of wheat per acre, down 13 bushels from 2020; 50 bushels of oats per acre, down 16 bushels from 2020; and 60 bushels of barley per acre, up 13 bushels per acre from 2020.
Overall, production of all three grains is down in Minnesota, as farmers planted fewer acres in 2021.
Nationwide, the agency said, yields and production levels are suffering for wheat, oats and barley.
Wheat yields will be at their lowest levels since 2002 and total harvest is exected to be down more than 40%.
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The oat harvest is expected to be 41.3 million bushels, down 37% from 2020, the which the agency says would be the lowest production on record.
Even though barley yields are up in Minnesota, they are down across the nation, the lowest since 2002. Barley producers are expecting the lowest yield since 2002, and the total barley production is forecast at 114 million bushels, the lowest production since 1900.
