MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA, US— A panel of soft wheat millers and merchandisers convened at the conclusion of the North American Millers’ Association 2024 spring conference forecast US 2024 soft red winter wheat production at 375.143 million bushels, down 74.622 million bushels, or 16.5%, from 449.017 million bushels in 2023.

If the forecast is realized, soft red winter wheat production in 2024 would be the second largest since 451.531 million bushels were produced in 2014. The recent record high production was 618.067 million bushels in 2008. The all-time record-high soft red winter wheat production was 678.017 million bushels produced in 1981.

Production was forecast to be down from 2023 in the Central states, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic states and the Southeast. Decreases in those states more than offset production gains forecast for the minor soft red winter wheat production states of Oklahoma and Texas.

In the Central states of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, projected production of 100.832 million bushels would be down 24% from 132.482 million in 2023.

In the Midwest states of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, the forecast for production at 154.132 million bushels would be down 11% from 181.540 million bushels in 2023.

In the Southeast, comprising Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, the production projection of 52.950 million bushels would be down 18% from 64.530 million bushels in 2023.

In the Mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, the forecast production of 42.8 million bushels would be down 18% from 52.067 million bushels last year.

In the South/Delta/Southwest region, including Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, production projected at 24.429 million bushels would mark an increase of 28% from 19.146 million bushels in 2023.