UNDATED (AP) North Dakota's spring wheat production is estimated at 226 (m) million bushels.

That's according to new Agriculture Department figures out today. U-S-D-A says the forecast is up six percent from last year and the highest since 2004.

durum production is expected to see a 52 percent jump from last year. The Agriculture Department says North Dakota's durum production is forecast at about 48 (m) million bushels. Acreage is up 15 percent.

North Dakota farmers also are expected to harvest more barley and oats. The barley crop is estimated at 82-point-four (m) million-bushels, up 69 percent from last year. The yield is forecast at 61 bushels an acre. U-S-D-A says it would be the third-highest yield on record.

And farmers in th estate are expected to harvest 14-point-seven (m) million bushels of oats, up from about five (m) million bushels last year. Acreage is up 83 percent.

The state's spring wheat yield is estimated at 37 bushels an acre, also up six percent. But the number of acres is down eleven percent from last year, to about six (m) million-acres.

Today's estimates are based on reports from farmers as of July First.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-12-07 0950CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list