Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.28 billion bushels, up 2 percent from 2023. As of May 1, the United States yield is forecast at 50.7 bushels per acre, up 0.1 bushel from last year’s average yield of 50.6 bushels per acre. Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 25.2 million acres, up 2 percent from last year. Hard Red Winter production, at 705 million bushels, is up 17 percent from a year ago. Soft Red Winter, at 344 million bushels, is down 23 percent from 2023. White Winter, at 229 million bushels, is up 16 percent from last year. Of the White Winter production, 17.3 million bushels are Hard White and 211 million bushels are Soft White.

All hay stored on United States farms as of May 1, 2024, totaled 21.0 million tons, up 47 percent from May 1, 2023. Disappearance from December 1, 2023 – May 1, 2024, totaled 55.7 million tons, down 3 percent from the same period a year earlier.