Winter Wheat Planting Up 12% Over Last Year

WASHINGTON — Farmers have planted about 54.5 million acres of winter wheat for harvest this year, up 12% from 1988, the Agriculture Department says.

Winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested the following year. It accounts for about three-fourths of the total U.S. wheat output.

Production was reduced last year by drought, and brisk export demand has helped reduce stockpiles. With greater demand, prices have risen substantially the past year.

Also, farmers are being required to idle only 10% of their wheat base acres for 1989 to qualify for government price supports, compared to 27.5% previously.

The 54.5 million acres of winter wheat planted for 1989 is the largest acreage since 57.8 million acres were planted for the 1985 harvest, according to USDA records.