September 29, 2014

Global wheat acreage for the 2015/16 season will reach a 17-year high climbing to 224 million hectares – up from 222.7 million hectares this season, according to the International Grains Council.  If achieved, this would be the highest global wheat acreage since 1998 when acreage hit 225 million hectares harvested.  Acreage is expected to see increases in countries such as Turkey, Ukraine, and the U.S. where adverse weather negatively affected wheat planting and production this season.  Wheat area in the EU, Canada, Russia, and China will remain unchanged, while acreage in Egypt could increase as a result of that country’s push for greater self-sufficiency.  The council did caution however that increased rain is needed in some southern regions of Russia and Ukraine, and the southern plains of the U.S. where 46% of Kansas, the top wheat producing state is still in drought, as is 52% of Texas, and 69% of Oklahoma.   In contrast, Canada is one of the few countries where too much precipitation has disrupted wheat production.

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