The 2024 Oklahoma winter wheat growing conditions started promising with sufficient moisture, then conditions turned dry. A long-term drought over Oklahoma consistently reduced total production over the past decade. The USDA’s early estimate for the state’s 2024 wheat production stood at 98.8 million bushels. This factored in a yield of 38 bushels per acre.

The adjusted yield average is 40 to 42 bushels per acre with total production at 110 to 115 million bushels. This includes areas that were affected by hail damage. Test weights in southwest Oklahoma and along the I-35 corridor in the northern portion of the state were impacted by heavy rains. The state still averaged over 60 pounds per bushel.

Executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission Mike Schulte said the varieties planted today perform better in drought conditions than those 20 years ago. He adds that 60% to 65% of the wheat harvested this year is a variety developed by the Wheat Improvement Team at OSU.

Read more on the Oklahoma wheat harvest here.