U.S. wheat production up 9 percent in 2024 report

Oct 11, 2024
By Farms.com

USDA reports 2024 U.S. wheat crop reaches 1.971 billion bushels, up from 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has forecasted a 9% increase in U.S. all-wheat production for 2024. Total production is estimated at 1.971 billion bushels, slightly lower than the previous August estimate but a considerable improvement over 2023’s production of 1.804 billion bushels. The 2024 wheat crop is expected to be the largest since 2016.

The USDA reported that while the total planted area for wheat dropped by 7% to 46.1 million acres in 2024, fewer acres were abandoned compared to 2023. The harvested area grew by 3.8%, leading to higher total production. The average yield is projected at 51.2 bushels per acre, up from 48.7 bushels in 2023.

Winter wheat production reached 1.349 billion bushels, a 9% increase from last year, while spring wheat production rose by 8%, with record-breaking yields of 52.5 bushels per acre. Durum wheat production also saw a sharp increase of 35%, with higher yields contributing to the growth.

Total wheat stocks as of September 1 were estimated at 1.986 billion bushels, reflecting a 12% increase from last year. The USDA's September report highlights a strong year for U.S. wheat production, driven by favourable weather conditions and improved yields.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.