Winter Wheat Seedings 

ISSN: 1949-1980

Released January 12, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture.

Special Note

NASS is in the process of modifying report layouts in order to improve readability. This is the first issue produced using 

the new layout. This report issue is published using both layouts but future issues will only be produced using this layout. 

The previous layout is available on the NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov. 

Planted Acres Down 14 Percent

Winter wheat seeded area for 2010 is expected to total 37.1 million acres, down 14 percent from 2009. Approximate 

class acreage breakdowns are: Hard Red Winter, 27.8 million; Soft Red Winter, 5.92 million; and White Winter, 

3.33 million.

Winter Wheat Area Seeded - United States: 2008-2010 (Domestic Units)

State

Crop year 2010

as a percent

of 2009 2008 2009 2010

(1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (percent)

Winter Wheat ...................... 46,307 43,311 37,097 86

Winter Wheat Area Seeded - United States: 2008-2010 (Metric Units)

State

Crop year 2010

as a percent

of 2009 2008 2009 2010

(hectares) (hectares) (hectares) (percent)

Winter Wheat ...................... 18,739,980 17,527,530 15,012,780 86
2 Winter Wheat Seedings (January 2010)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Winter Wheat: Planted area for harvest in 2010 is estimated at 37.1 million acres, down 14 percent from 2009 and the 

lowest since 1913. Seeding began last August and by mid-September was behind the 5-year average. The late row crop 

harvest and wet weather delayed planting in most States. The winter wheat crop condition at the end of November was 

rated 64 percent good to excellent compared with 65 percent the previous year.

Hard Red Winter (HRW) wheat seeded area is about 27.8 million acres, down 12 percent from 2009. Poor weather, low 

prices, and the late row crop harvest contributed to the decrease. Acreage is expected to be below last year=s level in most 

States in the HRW growing area, with a record low in Nebraska. The largest acreage decreases are in Kansas, Montana, 

Oklahoma, and Texas. Winter wheat seeded in Kansas is down 700,000 acres, 8 percent below 2009 and the lowest 

planted acres since 1957. Montana is down 550,000 acres, 22 percent below 2009 and the third largest decrease on record. 

Winter wheat in Oklahoma is expected to be down 500,000 acres, the lowest acreage since 1971. Acreage in Texas is 

down 1.00 million acres, the fourth largest decrease on record and lowest planted area since 1973. 

Soft Red Winter (SRW) wheat seeded area is about 5.92 million acres, down 29 percent from last year. Large acreage 

decreases from last year occurred in all SRW growing States due to the late row crop harvest, heavy rains, and wet soil 

conditions. Record low acreages are expected in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio. The largest acreage decreases are in 

Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio. Winter wheat in Arkansas is down 230,000 acres, 53 percent below 2009. Illinois 

is down 500,000 acres, 59 percent below last year. Acreage seeded in Missouri is down 360,000 acres, a 46 percent drop 

from 2009. Ohio is down 210,000 acres, down 21 percent from 2009.

White Winter wheat seeded area totals nearly 3.33 million acres, down 1 percent from 2009. Planted acreage in the Pacific 

Northwest (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) is up from last year. Winter wheat planted area is up 40,000 acres from 2009 

in Idaho, up 50,000 in Oregon, and unchanged in Washington. Seeding began ahead of normal in Idaho, Oregon, and 

Washington. By November 8, virtually all fields had been seeded in the region with 90 percent of the acreage emerged in 

Washington, 81 percent in Idaho, and 67 percent in Oregon.

Durum Wheat: Seedings in Arizona and California for 2010 harvest are estimated at 205,000 acres, down 33 percent 

from the 2009 level. Planted acreage is down 35,000 in Arizona and down 65,000 in California. Planting is ongoing in 

California's San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys. No major problems with the crop have been reported.

This report was approved on January 12, 2010.

Acting Secretary of

Agriculture

Kathleen A. Merrigan

Agricultural Statistics Board

Chairperson

Carol C. House
Winter Wheat Seedings (January 2010) 3

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Winter Wheat Area Seeded - State and United States: 2008-2010

State

Crop year 2010

as a percent

of 2009 2008 2009 2010

(1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (percent)

Alabama ..............................

Arizona ...............................

Arkansas .............................

California ............................

Colorado .............................

Delaware .............................

Florida .................................

Georgia ...............................

Idaho ...................................

Illinois .................................

Indiana ................................

Iowa ....................................

Kansas .................................

Kentucky .............................

Louisiana .............................

Maryland .............................

Michigan .............................

Minnesota ...........................

Mississippi ..........................

Missouri ..............................

Montana ..............................

Nebraska .............................

Nevada ................................

New Jersey ..........................

New Mexico ........................

New York ............................

North Carolina ....................

North Dakota .......................

Ohio ....................................

Oklahoma ............................

Oregon ................................

Pennsylvania .......................

South Carolina ....................

South Dakota .......................

Tennessee ............................

Texas ...................................

Utah ....................................

Virginia ...............................

Washington .........................

West Virginia ......................

Wisconsin ...........................

Wyoming ............................

United States .......................

240

9

1,070

680

2,150

80

25

480

850

1,200

580

40

9,600

580

400

255

730

75

520

1,250

2,600

1,750

12

35

430

130

820

630

1,120

5,600

780

195

220

2,050

620

5,800

130

310

1,750

11

350

150

46,307

220

7

430

590

2,600

70

17

340

740

850

470

28

9,300

510

185

230

620

55

180

780

2,550

1,700

16

34

450

115

700

580

1,010

5,700

760

190

165

1,700

430

6,400

140

250

1,700

9

335

155

43,311

180

7

200

505

2,400

55

16

200

780

350

300

15

8,600

450

140

210

500

70

120

420

2,000

1,500

10

27

480

110

600

340

800

5,200

810

170

150

1,250

290

5,400

130

200

1,700

7

250

155

37,097

82

100

47

86

92

79

94

59

105

41

64

54

92

88

76

91

81

127

67

54

78

88

63

79

107

96

86

59

79

91

107

89

91

74

67

84

93

80

100

78

75

100

86
4 Winter Wheat Seedings (January 2010)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Durum Wheat Area Seeded - State and United States: 2008-2010

State

Crop year 2010

as a percent

of 2009 2008 2009 2010 1

(1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (percent)

Arizona .............................

California .........................

Idaho ................................

Montana ...........................

North Dakota ....................

South Dakota ....................

United States ....................

150

160

10

590

1,800

11

2,721

125

180

20

570

1,650

9

2,554

90

115

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

72

64

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA Not Available.

1

Indicated 2010 area seeded for all six States and the US will be published in "Prospective Plantings" released March 31, 2010.
Winter Wheat Seedings (January 2010) 5

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Information Contacts

Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact 

for additional information.

Lance Honig, Chief...................................................................................................(202) 720-2127

Field Crops Section

Jacqueline Moore, Head............................................................................................(202) 720-2127

Suzanne Avilla - Peanuts, Rice .............................................................(202) 720-7688

Shiela Corley - Cotton, Cotton Ginnings ..............................................(202) 720-5944

Bryan Durham - Hay, Oats, Sorghum ...................................................(202) 690-3234

Anthony Prillaman - Corn, Proso Millet, Flaxseed ...............................(202) 720-9526

Nick Schauer - Wheat, Rye ...................................................................(202) 720-8068

Julie Schmidt - Crop Weather, Barley, Sugar Crops.............................(202) 720-7621

Travis Thorson - Soybeans, Sunflower, Other Oilseeds .......................(202) 720-7369
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