WASHINGTON — The National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture raised its estimate of U.S. wheat production to 2,220,156,000 bus, up 36,562,000 bus, or 2%, from the August forecast but down 279,008,000 bus, or 11%, from 2,499,164,000 bus in 2008. The new wheat estimates were contained in the Small Grains Summary 2009 issued by the U.S.D.A. today.

Production of spring wheat other than durum was estimated at 587,361,000 bus, up 39,101,000 bus, or 7%, from 548,260,000 bus as the August forecast and up 39,357,000 bus, or 7%, from 548,004,000 bus a year ago. Hard red spring wheat production was estimated at 550,883,000 bus, up 39,937,000 bus, or 8%, from the August forecast and up 8% from 512,138,000 bus in 2008.

Winter wheat production was estimated at 1,522,718,000 bus, down 14,630,000 bus, or 1%, from the August forecast and down 344,615,000 bus, or 18%, from 1,867,333,000 bus a year ago. Hard red winter wheat production was estimated at 919,015,000 bus, up 4,454,000 bus from August. Soft red winter wheat production was estimated at 403,563,000 bus, down 8,182,000 bus, or 2% from the August forecast. White winter wheat production was estimated at 200,140,000 bus, down 10,902,000 bus, or 5% from the August forecast.

Durum production was estimated at 110,077,000 bus, up 12,091,000 bus, or 12%, from the August forecast and up 26,250,000 bus, or 31%, from 83,827,000 bus in 2008.

Oats production was estimated at 93,276,000 bus, up 1,316,000 bus, or 1%, from the August forecast and up 4,141,000 bus, or 5%, from 89,135,000 bus a year ago.