Lansing, Mich. – As families across the country are enjoying their holiday celebrations, the Michigan Wheat Program is celebrating the state’s wheat farmers who produced a record-setting, bushel-per-acre, statewide yield for their red and white soft winter wheat 2025 harvest.

Figures released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) show that Michigan wheat farmers produced an average 90 bushels per acre, the nation’s 4th highest yield per acre among all types of wheat grown. Among states that grow winter wheat – which is Michigan’s strength – the Great Lakes State had the second-highest yields behind only Idaho.

“This 90 bushel-per-acre-yield edges out our 2016 record of 89 bushels per acre,” said Jeffery Krohn, the Owendale farmer who chairs the nine-member Michigan Wheat Program Board of Directors. “For many years, Michigan’s average wheat yield was in the mid-70 bushel per acre range. We, the board of the Michigan Wheat Program, have been funding research to make a difference in yields across the state.

“While weather is always a factor in farming, we believe that growers are picking up the new varieties from the MSU (Michigan State University) wheat breeding program and embracing the high-management techniques research supported by the Michigan Wheat Program which has been investing for 14 years in projects to increase yield and decrease quality issues.”

Michigan’s total wheat harvest in 2025 was 44.1 million bushels, with 70 percent of that being soft red winter wheat and 30 percent soft white winter wheat. Michigan’s 2025 average state yield at 90 bushels per acre is much higher than the 2025 national average of 54.9 bushels per acre.

“Weather alone cannot account for the strong trend upward we’re seeing in Michigan wheat yields, and it’s exciting to see and be a part of,” said Jody Pollok-Newsom, executive director of the Michigan Wheat Program. She noted that this is a perfect time to be thankful, as Michigan wheat shows up at the holidays in many pastries, cakes and cookies, as well as wheat berry and faro side dishes and pretzel and appetizer snacks.

The Michigan Wheat Program is funded by nearly 8,000 farmers who grow wheat in 50 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Research on wheat production practices and grower education are a primary emphasis for the commodity check-off. Information about Michigan’s wheat industry, and summaries of wheat research are found at the miwheat.org website under the research tab, or by calling 888-WHEAT01 (888-943-2801).