Wheat production in Kazakhstan is forecast at 13.5 million tonnes in 2017-18, down 10% from 14.99 million tonnes forecast for 2016-17, according to an Oct. 15 Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report issued by the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA said the year-over-year decline in output reflects a reduction in both area planted and area harvested in Kazakhstan. Area harvested was forecast at 11.5 million hectares in 2017-18, down from 12.437 million hectares in 2016-17. Area planted to wheat has been affected by government policies, and, according to the USDA, a key reason for the decline was the re-establishment of oilseeds subsidies, which the USDA indicated provided strong incentives for farmers to switch to oilseed production.