WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — U.S. flour milling eased in 2025 and stayed softer into early 2026, showing weaker overall wheat grind even as some specialty categories held firmer.
USDA said all wheat ground for flour totaled 907 million bushels in 2025, down 1 percent from 2024. Total flour production fell 2 percent to 419 million hundredweight, while whole wheat flour dropped 5 percent to 17.3 million hundredweight.
The first quarter of 2026 also ran below year-earlier levels. All wheat grind was 222 million bushels, down 2 percent from both the previous quarter and the first quarter of 2025, while flour production slipped to 103 million hundredweight.
Durum milling was steadier. Annual durum grind rose 1 percent to 66.1 million bushels, while first-quarter 2026 grind increased from the prior quarter, even though it remained 3 percent below a year earlier. Rye showed a smaller but improving quarterly pace.
The combined report points to a milling sector that is stable but not expanding. Core wheat flour output remains below year-ago levels, while durum and rye are offering only limited support.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Flour milling demand stayed generally steady, but total wheat grind remained slightly softer year over year.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
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