ND winter wheat production to be down slightly

FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota farmers expect to harvest 16.7 million bushels of winter wheat this year. The Agriculture Department says the amount is down 5 percent from last year.

Winter wheat is a minor crop in North Dakota, where spring wheat and durum wheat are staples.

Officials say North Dakota farmers are expected to harvest slightly fewer winter wheat acres this year than last. Average yield is expected to be 54 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from last year's record.

Nationally, winter wheat production is pegged at 1.42 billion bushels, down 4 percent from 2010.

Tags: north dakota, crops, agribusiness, agriculture, wheat