WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated the area planted to winter wheat for harvest this year at 41,892,000 acres, down 3% from a year ago but up 2% from 2012.

Planted area of hard red winter wheat was estimated at 30.1 million acres, up 2% from a year ago. The USDA said in commentary accompanying the planting estimate, “Acreage changes from last year are mixed across the growing region. Growers in Colorado, Montana and North Dakota planted significantly more acres this year while large acreage decreases occurred in Kansas, Oklahoma and South Dakota. Record low acreage was seeded in Utah. In contrast, North Dakota growers seeded a record large area.”

The USDA estimated area planted to soft red winter wheat at 8.44 million acres, down 16% from last year. “Acreage decreases from last year are expected in most soft red winter growing states with significant acreage decreases estimated in Arkansas and Mississippi,” the USDA said.

White winter wheat seeded area was estimated at 3.39 million acres, down 3% from 2013. The USDA noted in particular that planted acreage in the Pacific Northwest was down from last year.

Seedings of durum wheat in California and Arizona for harvest this year were estimated at 145,000 acres, down 6% from 2013 and down 41% from 2012.