Hard red spring wheat (HRS) is grown mostly in the northern areas of the country, where summers are generally mild and not too hot for young, tender plants. HRS is planted from April through late May and harvest in August and September.
The majority of the HRS – about 95 percent – is grown in the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota. Idaho and Washington also grow HRS.
North Dakota accounts for slightly more than half of the annual U.S. HRS production.
U.S. acreage averages 12.5 million acres with production of 500 million bushels. The recent average U.S. yield for HRS is 45 bushels per acre. Producers in North Dakota plant 6 million acres of HRS on average with production averaging 265 million bushels.
About half of the U.S. HRS crop is used domestically each year, while the other half is exported to approximately 50 countries around the world.
More than half of the exported wheat heads to Asian countries and Central and South American countries account for another fourth of the market. Smaller percentages of HRS exports go to Europe and African/Middle East markets.