North Dakota Winter Wheat Trial Results 2025

By Scout Nelson

The North Dakota Hard Red Winter Wheat Variety Trial for 2025 provides farmers with valuable insights into the performance, yield, and hardiness of wheat varieties best suited for the state’s climate.

During the 2024-25 growing season, around 100,000 acres of winter wheat were planted, with 85,000 acres harvested. Yields varied widely due to an unusually warm and dry fall in 2024, which delayed germination and caused significant winter kill.

However, some areas with adequate spring moisture reported yields above 90 bushels per acre, while most fields averaged between 50 and 60 bushels per acre.

The ND Noreen variety, released by North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 2020, was the most planted, covering 16.6% of acres, followed by Ideal, a South Dakota State University release, at 10.8%. Other varieties made up the remaining acres, showing a strong diversity of genetic selection across farms.

Successful winter wheat production depends heavily on selecting varieties with the right combination of winter hardiness, yield potential, test weight, protein levels, straw strength, and disease resistance.

The guide recommends using data from multiple years and locations for reliable selection rather than single-site results.

Producers are advised to plant between Sept. 1-15 north of Highway 200 and Sept. 15-30 in southern regions. Planting too early or too late can reduce yields and increase the risk of winter damage. The suggested seeding rate is 1–1.2 million seeds per acre, depending on soil and timing.

Applying phosphorus helps with root growth and fall tillering, but variety selection remains the key to winter survival. Farmers are encouraged to focus on long-term performance data when selecting varieties best suited for their area.

This research, conducted by NDSU and its regional extension centers, continues to help farmers choose resilient, high-yielding varieties that maintain North Dakota’s strong position in winter wheat production.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-ianchrisgraham