Hard Red Winter (HRW). USDA reported 2016/17 HRW planted area at 26.5 million acres (10.7 million hectares), down 9 percent from 2015/16. With exceptionally favorable weather across much of the HRW growing region, USDA estimates total 2016/17 HRW production increased 30 percent to 1.08 billion bushels (29.4 MMT). Yields improved 54 percent and 50 percent from 2015/16 in Kansas and Oklahoma, the top two HRW-producing states.
Hard Red Spring (HRS). In the Northern Plains this year, HRS was not as competitive as pulses, durum and oilseeds, and planted area fell 9 percent from 2015/16 to 11.4 million acres (4.61 million hectares). Average yields in North Dakota, the top HRS-producing state, are projected to fall 4 percent from last year’s record high to 46.0 bu/acre (3.09 MT/ha). USDA projected HRS production at 493 million bushels (13.4 MMT), down 13 percent from the 2015/16 record.
Soft Red Winter (SRW). USDA estimated total 2016/17 SRW area at 6.58 million acres (2.66 million hectares), 7 percent lower than 2015/16 and 20 percent below the 5-year average. USDA expects SRW production will total 370 million bushels (10.1 MMT), up 3 percent from 2015/16, but 18 percent below the 5-year average of 451 million bushels. To read the 2016/17 USW SRW Crop Quality report, click here.
Soft White (SW). Though fall planting in the PNW occurred during the third consecutive year of drought, wheat planted area increased slightly year over year to 4.15 million acres (1.68 million hectares). Then timely rains boosted yield potential across the PNW. USDA forecasts 2016/17 white production at 285 million bushels (7.78 MMT), a 27 percent increase year over year and 8 percent above the 5-year average of 257 million bushels (7.00 MMT).
Durum. Durum acreage increased again this year as farmers responded to higher prices. Northern durum is grown primarily in North Dakota and Montana, while Desert Durum® is grown in Arizona and California. USDA estimates 2.14 million acres were planted to durum, up 24 percent from 2015/16 but still 5 percent below the 5-year average of 2.26 million acres. USDA estimated 2016/17 U.S. durum production at 104 million bushels (2.25 MMT), up 24 percent from 2015/16 after generally favorable weather boosted yields in the Northern Plains.
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