Final Wheat Harvest Wrap: Spring is Solid; Durum Slips; and Winter Classes Steady-to-Mixed

Expect firm demand for dependable HRS and SW, steady movement in HRW, more sorting on SRW, and selective bids on durum until full milling results are released.

winter wheat.jpg

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — U.S. Wheat Associates closed the 2025 harvest season with Hard Red Spring (HRS) finishing at a top grade and northern durum slipping a notch on higher damage late in the season.

Hard Red Winter (HRW) and Soft White (SW) maintained steady, consistent quality overall, while Soft Red Winter (SRW) ended on a mixed and more variable note than last year. A comprehensive crop quality report will be published later this month, including flour and milling results.

For buyers and growers, this means that HRS and SW appear reliable for core milling and export needs, while HRW remains steady across most specifications. SRW, however, will require more lot-by-lot selection, and durum values may depend on how specific shipments meet damage and color targets.

Elevators and marketers should expect premiums/discounts to reflect these differences and consider tighter segregation where variability shows up.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Expect firm demand for dependable HRS and SW, steady movement in HRW, more sorting on SRW, and selective bids on durum until full milling results are released.
Related Stories
Ethanol output softened, but underlying supply-and-demand trends indicate stable longer-term use despite short-term volatility in blending and exports.
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Danny Munch joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to break down the scope of the U.S. Christmas Tree industry and what growers are up against.
Rising beef supplies and lower cattle prices, weaker hog markets, and softening dairy prices will shape producer margins heading into 2026.
Stable U.S. fundamentals continue for major crops, but global adjustments in corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton may influence early-2026 pricing.
Corn and wheat exports continue to outperform last year, while soybeans show steady but subdued movement compared to 2024.
Tight Credit, Strong Yields Define Early December Agriculture
While this month’s WASDE report will not include updated figures on U.S. crop size, officials say it will offer a clearer picture of crop conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.
Record yields and exceptionally low BCFM strengthen U.S. corn’s competitive position in global markets.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Leadership development and bipartisan engagement remain central to advancing agriculture’s priorities in 2026.
Winter Weather, Drought Shape Early 2026 Farm Conditions
As domestic production and blending slowed, export demand remained a clear bright spot.
Protein markets are fragmenting. Beef is supply-driven and more structurally expensive, whereas pork and poultry remain price-competitive.
Reducing mental stress and focusing on controllable actions can improve decision-making in high-pressure environments, according to Hollywood actor and former Calif Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Tight fed supplies shift margin risk to packers, strengthening cattle price leverage but increasing volatility.
Agriculture Shows
America’s Heartland brings positive, heartfelt stories about American agriculture to viewers in both urban and rural areas.
Hosted by Pam Minick, “The American Rancher” focuses on the people and places that make ranching an American lifestyle. This half-hour magazine format series features livestock producers and their ranches, animals, and ranching practices.
For the latest information on how to take your operation from good to great, tune into Ag PhD. The program includes a wide range of agronomic information from how to maximize your fertilizer program & tiling to stopping those yield-robbing insects and crop diseases and more.
RFD-TV is always creating new ways for rural America to educate and to be educated. RURAL AMERICA LIVE, the network’s longest-running self-produced program, is certainly no exception.