We're having the worst wheat crop in decades. You'll notice the ripple effects soon at the grocery store |
We’re having the worst wheat crop in decades. You’ll notice the ripple effects soon at the grocery store
(NEXSTAR) – It’s a perfect storm of terrible conditions for wheat farmers this year. Drought, dramatic swings in temperature, the skyrocketing price of fertilizer and diesel, plus multiple viruses affecting wheat have all led to one of the most challenging years for farmers in decades.
There are different classes of winter wheat, but they’re all down when compared to last year’s crop, explained Todd Hubbs, a crop marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University Extension.
The most widely produced class of wheat in the U.S., Hard Red Winter wheat, has a current production forecast of 515 million bushels. That may sound like a lot, but it would end up being the lowest since 1957, Hubbs said.
Soft red winter and white wheat varieties are also having tough years, with the lowest production volume in 6 to 10 years.
In all, growers will see their smallest wheat crop in terms of production since 1972, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1.56 billion bushels this year, down 21% from 2025.
How will this year’s........