March 7, 2008

North Dakota tops US in total wheat production in 2007 

North Dakota farmers last year led the nation in total wheat production for the first time since 1996, according to USDA rankings released this week.

North Dakota typically leads the nation in production of spring wheat and durum wheat, which is used to make pasta. Kansas typically leads in the production of winter wheat, and for the past decade had a stranglehold on the total-wheat production.

Last year's crop in Kansas was decimated by disease and weather, particularly a late-spring freeze and flooding later in the season. Total production was pegged at just under 284 million bushels, a drop of more than 16 percent from the state's long-term average, Boswell said.

North Dakota's total wheat crop last year was estimated at 300 million bushels, a 19-percent jump from 2006.

North Dakota last year also led the nation in the production of barley; oats; canola; oil, non-oil and all sunflowers.