By Jamie Martin
The 2025 Hard Winter Wheat Tour, organized by the Wheat Quality Council, concluded on May 15 after a comprehensive three-day journey across Kansas. The event brought together 67 participants from 21 U.S. states and six countries.
Traveling in 17 vehicles, the group followed six routes that spanned from Manhattan to Colby, down to Wichita, and back to Manhattan. Notably, over half of those involved were attending for the first time.
Throughout the tour, 449 wheat fields were examined, and yield estimates were collected. The three-day average yield was 53 bushels per acre. Of the 7.4 million acres planted last fall, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) anticipates that 6.9 million acres will be harvested this summer.
However, with harvest still three to eight weeks away, weather conditions could significantly influence the final results.
Tour participants projected Kansas’ total wheat production at 338.5 million bushels based on their observations. This estimate is slightly lower than NASS’s May 1 projection of 345 million bushels, with an expected average yield of 50 bushels per acre.
A recurring concern during this year’s tour was the prevalence of the Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus complex. While some fields showed signs of localized infections, others had widespread symptoms that could potentially impact yields depending on the severity of infection.
The Wheat Quality Council sponsors this annual event to build relationships within the wheat industry and to assess the crop's condition at a specific point in time. The tour also serves to promote the value and challenges of the agricultural sector.
This year’s participants included 12 wheat producers, 11 grain trade representatives, 18 millers, nine bakers, and professionals from media, universities, and other industry sectors. Among them were flour millers and quality managers from mills across the United States and internationally. U.S.
Wheat Associates supported six attendees from flour mills in Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. The opportunity to connect international buyers with Kansas wheat producers remains a key highlight of the tour, strengthening global relationships and promoting U.S. wheat quality.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dleonis
Categories: National