International Grains Council predicts strong production

The latest market report from the International Grains Council estimates that world grains production in the 2009–2010 crop year will total 1.768 billion metric tons, thanks to strong production of wheat, corn and barley in North America and the Russia-Eastern Europe region. This would be 25 million metric tons below last year’s record. Total consumption is projected at 1.744 billion metric tons.
According to the council, the output of wheat will total 674 million metric tons, compared with 686 million tons last year. The forecast global consumption of 642 million metric tons would be only 3 million metric tons more than in 2008–2009. The world wheat harvest in 2010 is expected to come from 221 million hectares, down 1% from 2009, but the upward trend in yield per hectare should still give the current calendar year the third-largest crop on record at 653 million metric tons.
The International Grains Council’s corn production forecast for 2009–2010 has been raised to 791 million metric tons, matching last year's total, although it says that some doubts remain about quality. Uptake for all uses is put at 803 million tons. The use of corn for animal feeds is predicted to rise by 1.5%.