Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine
February 2001

U.S. Winter Wheat Acreage Lowest in 30 Years

Winter wheat seeded area for 2001 is expected to total 41.3 million acres, down 5% from 2000 and the smallest planting since 1971, according to USDA, in its planting estimate released January 11.

Winter wheat seeding progress was slow across most of the U.S. last fall, due primarily to dry soil conditions. Oklahoma and Texas led the decline, down 700,000 and 400,000 acres, respectively. Colorado and Montana also showed large decreases.

Dry conditions have been the leading cause of the lower acreage, leading to delayed seeding progress and even slower emergence. In Texas and Oklahoma, the dry conditions were followed by excessive rainfall, which further hindered progress. Emergence is a month behind the 5-year average in Oklahoma, causing concern for cattlemen hoping to have wheat pasture for grazing cattle.

Kansas and Nebraska are the most notable states expecting to plant more acres than last year. Emergence was significantly behind average in Kansas until mid-November. In Nebraska, moisture supplies were very short to short during planting, but improved as planting neared completion.

The Colorado crop is short and poorly rooted leaving it vulnerable to blow out and shallow snow cover. The summer drought in Montana continued into the fall causing many farmers to reduce their planted acreage.

Minnesota expects to plant only a small amount of winter wheat. Its acreage for harvest in 2001 is estimated at 20,000, the same as last year. Montana has a 20% reduction in winter wheat acreage compared to last year (1.2 million acres in 2001, compared to 1.5 million in 2000). Winter wheat acreage at 1.35 million in South Dakota is expected to remain unchanged from 2000. North Dakota only raises a small amount of winter wheat, but has the largest percentage increase (42%) in winter wheat seedings of any state. Winter wheat acreage in ND is estimated at 170,000 acres, up from 120,000 acres in 2000 and 60,000 acres in 1999.

Nearly all soft red winter states have planted less wheat this year. There will be less “desert durum” too: Seedings in Arizona and California for 2001 harvest are estimated at 160,000 acres, down 14% from their final 2000 planting.