Winter wheat: Planted area for harvest in 2014 is estimated at 41.9 million acres, down 3 percent from 2013 but 2 percent above 2012. Seeding began in August but by the end of September was slightly behind the 5-year average pace. However, by the end of October, seeding had progressed slightly ahead of the 5-year average pace.
Hard Red Winter (HRW) wheat seeded area is expected to be 30.1 million acres, up 2 percent from 2013. Acreage changes from last year are mixed across the growing region. Growers in Colorado, Montana, and North Dakota planted significantly more acres this year while large acreage decreases occurred in Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Record low acreage was seeded in Utah. In contrast, North Dakota growers seeded record high area. By November 24, Hard Red Winter wheat conditions were improved from last year with most acreage rated in good to excellent condition.
Soft Red Winter (SRW) wheat seeded area is about 8.44 million acres, down 16 percent from last year. Acreage decreases from last year are expected in most SRW growing States with significant acreage decreases estimated in Arkansas and Mississippi.
White Winter wheat seeded area totals nearly 3.39 million acres, down 3 percent from 2013. Planted acreage in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) is down from last year. Planting got off to a normal start but by the middle of October progress was behind the 5-year average pace in Idaho and Washington. By November 10, seeding was virtually complete in the region.
Durum wheat: Seedings in Arizona and California for 2014 harvest are estimated at 145,000 acres, down 6 percent from 2013 and 41 percent below 2012. Planting has progressed well in both the San Joaquin Valley and Imperial Valley. No major problems with the crop have been reported.
