ND Wheat News Releases

The winter wheat crop has been closely watched this spring as drought, heat and even freezing conditions have impacted crop conditions. The May USDA Crop Production report provided the first estimate for 2026 winter wheat, and while expectations were for a smaller crop compared to 2025, the projected 25% decline caught many by surprise. Total winter wheat production is pegged at 1.05 billion bushels, the smallest in decades. Winter wheat seedings were down marginally from

Export sales of U.S. wheat are projected to be the highest in five years due to a rebound in supplies of HRW, price competitiveness on the world market, and good quality across wheat classes. The most recent estimate for U.S. wheat exports, for the marketing year which ended May 31, is 910 million bushels, up 10% from a year ago. Provided below is further insight into durum and HRS sales. Durum Durum sales have been strong most of the marketing season. As the accompanying

World Wheat Production 2024-2026 The initial look at global wheat production, issued by USDA in May, points to a 3 percent decline in potential production. USDA projects 30.1 billion bushels, down from last years record level of 31 billion. All six of the key export countries are looking at smaller crops at the current stage, which will tighten available supplies for trade, but tempering this is larger crops in the key import regions of North Africa and the Middle East, which

After 26 years as president and CEO of North Dakota Mill, Vance Taylor is turning the page. His last day is July 3rd, and while he's genuinely looking forward to spending more time with his family and doing some traveling, he's the first to admit it won't be easy to walk away. "I'm going to miss the people here at the mill and the connections with the state and local government, who have both given a lot of great support over the years," Taylor said. Under his leadership, the

Hitting your mailboxes soon is the annual wheat variety survey, and we strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to fill it out. We know your time is valuable, so we appreciate you filling out the survey if you receive one. The data from this survey is used throughout the supply chain. Plant breeders track which varieties are gaining ground. Seed producers use it to plan. And buyers of North Dakota wheat — who count on our grain for its specific quality — use variety tren

Participants of the Egyptian HRS Baking Course pause for a picture outside the Five Star flour milling facility. When we think of North Dakota wheat, we think of the endless horizon of the Red River Valley or the rolling hills of the west. But recently, our wheat was the star of the show in a much different setting: a milling facility in Suez, Egypt. U.S. Wheat Associates recently hosted an intensive, three-day hands-on workshop for 30 of Egypt's top industrial and artisanal

Recently, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) celebrated the 60th anniversary of its Taipei office, a milestone that highlights one of our most consistent and high-value trade partnerships.

Fresh off the 70th-anniversary celebration of U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) in Tokyo, we were honored to welcome a Japanese trade delegation to the farm of USW Chairman and North Dakota grower, Jim Pellman.

The results are in from District elections to elect Commissioners to the NDWC board, and we are pleased to announce the leadership that will continue to guide our efforts across North Dakota and the region. These elections are a vital part of the Commission’s governance, ensuring that the voices of our producers are heard and represented at the highest level. In District 3, we are proud to share that Jim Pellman, McClusky, has been re-elected. Jim’s continued dedication to ou

In mid-March, a delegation of U.S. wheat farmers traveled to South Korea and Taiwan to strengthen ties with some of the world’s most quality-conscious buyers. Organized by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), this trade team mission provided a firsthand look at how U.S. wheat moves from our local elevators to the vibrant noodle plants and bakeries of Seoul and Taipei. Don Hardy and Glendon Slaubaugh, NDWC board members were a part of the delegation. The mission focused on the evolvin

The March Prospective Plantings Report is one of the most anticipated USDA reports. The report provides a glimpse into potential acreage makeup, and while final acreage numbers can vary significantly, it is still a major market moving report. The report is based off producer surveys the first half of March, thus price shifts in both crop and input prices have likely already impacted some acreage decisions. Nationally, the report indicated producers plan to plant 84.7 million

Prior to 2025, the conversation around world durum supplies was one of tighter than average supply and demand fundamentals and declining ending stocks. In fact, ending stocks reached a near three-decade year low in 2024. This was the result of major production related issues in many of the top durum producing countries. Prices during this time frame were extremely sensitive to shifts in demand and other market factors and trended higher than average. However, production r

Export sales of U.S. wheat remain about 15% higher than one year ago, a trend that has been prevalent throughout much of the growing season. Sales to our top two customers, Mexico and the Philippines, continue to show double digit increases. Exports are relatively stable year on year to Japan and Taiwan, two customers consistently in the top five, but are down to Korea. We are also seeing higher sales to countries not typically in the top ten market set, including Colombia

While North Dakota wheat is a staple on the global stage, the Commission remains equally committed to growing demand right here at home. Strengthening our domestic market ensures a stable, diverse foundation for our producers. To amplify this mission, we are excited to highlight the evolving role of the Wheat Foods Council (WFC). The WFC is currently undergoing a strategic shift to become the definitive Domestic Producer Voice. Historically focused on broad consumer outreach,

Every March, the North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC) board gathers for an intensive review of our research portfolio. This annual meeting is more than just a reporting session; it is a strategic "look over the horizon" that allows our leadership to direct grower dollars toward the projects that will define the future of North Dakota agriculture. By evaluating ongoing research alongside new proposals, the Commission ensures that our state remains the global leader in both whe

U.S. hard red spring (HRS) wheat competes for the top of the quality spectrum on the world market. This is due to the inherent high protein content and end-use quality parameters found in many of our varieties, the production practices of our producers, and our typical growing season environment, as well as the strength of our local grain handling and segregation capabilities. Maintaining the quality standard and reputation of U.S. HRS in the world market is no easy task and

The 2025 production year for world wheat is one for the record books. Excellent growing conditions in most of the major production countries led to strong yields, more than offsetting steady to lower planted area in key regions.

The 2025 world durum crop is currently estimated at 1.37 billion bushels, up from 1.34 last year, and the largest crop in nine years. All of the key production regions had larger crops, with significant rebounds in Canada, the EU and North Africa, and a smaller increase in the United States.

In the fall of 2025, USW hosted 37 crop quality seminars for over 1,500 participants across 45 countries. While the core of the event is technical data—ranging from milling and dough quality to baking performance—the seminars also provide a platform to share the story of U.S. farming practices and provide production and price outlooks.