Washington

With the global wheat trade impacted due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the world was looking towards America for a good harvest to ease the supply chain. But the world's fourth largest wheat exporter has been hit by a massive drought plumetting its output by 7 per cent from 2021.

"From California to Texas, hot, dry weather compounded the effects of a punishing drought," a US government report about the weekly weather and crop condition said.

With adverse weather conditions, wheat production has borne the major brunt. The situation was already alarming after China and parts of Europe showed declining prospects and India putting in place an export ban. 

According to local media reports both the US varieties of wheat - Spring and Winter - are in trouble. This is evident with how wheat prices have surged 50 per cent in the the US in recent months. 

According to the Crop Bulletin, by June 12, 86 per cent of the nation's winter wheat crop was headed 5 percentage points behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average.

The major winter wheat growing states - Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington - planted 89 per cent of last year's winter wheat acreage even as these states harvested 91 per cent of last year's winter wheat acreage. Six states - Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington - planted 100 per cent of last year's spring wheat acreage. The USDA's Agricultural Statistics Board on June 10, 2022 said: "Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.18 billion bushels, up 1 per cent from the May 1 forecast but down 7 per cent from 2021."

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By May 15, 48 per cent of the winter wheat was headed 3 percentage points behind last year and 5 points behind average. By May 29, 72 per cent of the winter wheat crop was headed 5 percentage points behind last year and 4 points behind average. On May 29, almost 29 per cent of the winter wheat was reported in good to excellent condition, 19 percentage points below the same time last year.