Winter wheat acreage keeps sliding

(AgriNews) – The downward trend in winter wheat seedings continued into its third year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 36.609 million acres of winter wheat has been planted this year, compared to last year’s 39.461 million and 42.409 million in 2014. Seedings reached 43.23 million in 2013.

The approximate class acreage breakdowns are hard red winter, 26.5 million; soft red winter, 6.72 million; and white winter, 3.43 million.

USDA estimates Illinois acreage at 530,000 acres after seeding 540,000 in 2015, 740,000 acres in 2014 and 880,000 in 2013.

Indiana has 420,000 winter wheat seeded acres in 2016, up from 290,000 in 2015. The Hoosier State planted 390,000 acres in 2014 and 460,000 in 2013.

Iowa’s acreage increased to 30,000 acres, 10,000 higher than last year. The state had 26,000 acres in 2014 and 30,000 in 2013.

The largest declines in planted acreage are estimated in the Great Plains states, including a record low acreage of 1.28 million in Nebraska, 14 percent down from the previous year.

Kansas, the nation’s top wheat producer, dropped from 9.2 million seeded acres in 2015 to 8.5 million this year.