US winter wheat area for harvest in 2025 is up from a year ago, boosted by acreage increases for all three major classes.
A USDA winter wheat and canola seedings report on Friday pegged total national winter wheat area at 34.115 million acres, up 2% from the previous year’s 33.39 million and above the average pre-report trade guess of 33.36 million.
At an estimated 24 million acres, Hard Red Winter wheat area is estimated up 1% from a year ago, while Soft Red acres are seen 6% higher at 6.44 million. White Winter acres, at 3.36 million, are estimated to be up 3% on the year.
In the top production state of Kansas, winter wheat acres are estimated at 7.4 million, down 200,000 or 3% from last year and 8.1% below the 8.1 million planted in 2023. Oklahoma planted area is pegged at 4.25 million acres, down 100,000 or 2% from 2024 and below 4.55 million in 2023. Both Kansas and Oklahoma were extremely dry in the fall, which may have limited plantings, although moisture now is much improved.
Around the Great Lakes, winter wheat planting conditions were near ideal following an early soybean harvest. Producers in Michigan put an estimated 550,000 acres of winter wheat in the ground, up a major 150,000 or 38% from the previous year, although still below the 2023 level of 600,000. Ohio growers planted more winter wheat as well, up 140,000 acres or 27% to 660,000, also topping the 650,000 planted in 2023.
In what may be a harbinger of springtime plantings, the USDA reported so-called ‘desert durum’ acres in Arizona and California at a combined 75,000 acres, down 11% from 2024 but more than one-third above 2023.
In late October, the USDA released its first winter wheat crop conditions report, rating just 38% of the 2025 American crop in good to excellent condition, the second lowest rating in records dating back to 1986. However, much-needed rain and snow in November eventually pushed the nationwide winter wheat condition rating up to 55% good to excellent.
