Planted winter wheat is up 2% in both the Pacific Northwest and the United States, the USDA says in its annual winter wheat seedings report.

Idaho is expected to have the same acreage as last year — 760,000 acres. Oregon, at 750,000 acres in 2025, is up 1% from 740,000 acres in 2024. Washington is up to 1.85 million acres, a 3% increase from 1.8 million in 2024.

About 34.1 million acres are estimated nationwide for 2025, up from 33.4 million in 2024 but down 7% from 36.7 million in 2023.

All three Northwest states are up from 2023’s acreage in 2025.

“This tracks with expectations,” said Britany Hurst Marchant, executive director for the Idaho Wheat Commission. “That figure is the same as last year and is 40,000 acres above the five-year average. The trend line for Idaho’s winter wheat acres planted has held pretty steady over the past 40 years and the weather cooperated this year with a longer, warmer autumn which allowed farmers to get seed in the ground.”

“The majority of our wheat production is in dryland areas with a wheat-fallow rotation, so relatively steady planting expectations,” said Amanda Hoey, Oregon Wheat CEO. “Typically our variations occur in the Willamette Valley, with growers deciding between a range of crops based on their crop rotation plans, projections of harvest prices and delivery options to Portland. Unfortunately, prices for most ag products are low so where producers have choice in planting, they are not facing a lot of great options.”

Low prices and high input costs have combined to produce a difficult economic outlook for all agriculture operations, including wheat, the Northwest leaders say.

It’s “a combination that increases the risks farmers are already taking,” Hurst Marchant said. “Of course those factors contribute to the decision of what to plant, but those decisions are also influenced by the established crop rotation system that protects the ecosystem on the farm. Certainly, price and profitability are key drivers, but so are environmental factors like soil health and natural resources.”

“The (Oregon Wheat Growers) League appreciates resources included in the American Relief Act that will provide a partial bridge for farmers as we move into the spring,” Hoey said.

2025 crop outlook

It’s too early to make projections, but “it has been both warmer and wetter than average this year,” Hoey said. “We have seen distinct improvements in the drought monitor as a result.”

Oregon’s spring wheat crop is minimal.

“A lot can happen in the next seven or eight months before harvest, but right now the crop looks good,” Hurst Marchant said. “We are a bit dry throughout Idaho for this time of year, but the snowpack is decent and the reservoirs are above 40% so there is hope that continued moisture over the next few months will result in adequate soil moisture and irrigation for another successful crop.”

Wheat by class

White winter wheat seeded area totals 3.64 million acres in the U.S., up 3% from 2024. No states are expecting decreased acreage. White winter wheat is primarily grown in the Pacific Northwest.

Hard red winter wheat seeded area is expected to total 24 million acres, up 1% from 2024. The largest increases in planted acreage are estimated in Montana and Texas, while Kansas is estimated to have a decrease.

Soft red winter wheat seeded area totals 6.44 million acres, up 6% from last year. Compared with last year, the largest acreage increases are expected in Michigan and Ohio, while the largest acreage decreases are expected in Kentucky and Missouri.

A record low-planted area is expected in Utah, according to the report.