The Wheat Council’s three-day Hard Winter Wheat Tour concluded last week. Sixty-nine participants from government, universities, grain traders, millers, bakers and farmers toured 449 fields across Kansas, southern Nebraska and north Oklahoma.

The total weighted average yield was estimated at 46.5 bushels per acre. This bushel average represents over a 50% increase from last year’s 30.0 bushels per acre estimate. The official tour projection of wheat production is 290.4 million bushels.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service forecasted the crop to be 267.9 million bushels with a 38 bushels per acre yield based on May 1 conditions. With several weeks until harvest, a lot can still affect yield.

Read more about the winter wheat tour here.