A panel of flour millers and wheat merchandisers on April 25 forecast soft red winter wheat production in the United States in 2023 at 404.923 million bushels, up 68.297 million bushels, or 20%, from 336.626 million bushels in 2022.
The soft red winter wheat crop as projected would be the largest dating back to the 2014 crop year, when 454.531 million bushels were harvested, and the second largest since a recent production peak of 568.481 million bushels in 2013.
The panel, speaking at the 2023 spring conference of the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA), indicated production would be up in the Central, Midwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, which together more than offset a decline in the South and Southwest states.
The panellists also forecast the soft white winter wheat crop, produced largely in the Pacific Northwest, at 223.906 million bushels, down 1.353 million bushels, or 1%, from 225.259 million bushels in 2022. The panel, led by Carl Schwinke, Siemer Milling Co., Teutopolis, Illinois, US, comprised Jay McAllister, The Mennel Milling Co., Fostoria, Ohio, US; Andrew Rutter, Bartlett, a Savage Company, Kansas City, Missouri, US; Mark Rossol, The Andersons Inc., Maumee, Ohio, US; and Patrick Deppa, a senior wheat merchant with Ardent Mills, Denver, Colorado, US