The number of acres planted to winter wheat for 2014 is expected to total 41.9 million, down 3% from 2013.

Winter wheat seeding for 2014 harvest began in August. It was slightly behind the 5-year average pace by the end of September, but by the end of October had progressed slightly ahead.

Approximately 30.1 million acres of the 41.9 million were seeded Hard Red Winter wheat. 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. The record low acreage was seeded in Utah, and North Dakota seeded a record high. By Nov. 24, Hard Red Winter wheat conditions were improved from last year with most acreage in good to excellent condition.

Soft Red Winter (SRW) wheat seeded area is about 8.44 million acres, down 16% 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% from 2013. Planted acreage in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) is down from last year. While planting got off to a normal start, by mid-October progress was behind the 5-year average pace in Idaho and Washington. Seeding was virtually completed in the region by Nov. 10.

Durum wheat seeding in Arizona and California for 2014 is estimated at 145,000 acres, down 6% from 2013 and 41% below 2012. Planting has progressed well in the San Joaquin Valley and Imperial Valley, and no major problems have been reported.