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You are here: Home1 / Crop Quality2 / Hard Red Winter

With excellent milling and baking characteristics for wheat foods like pan breads, hard rolls, croissants and flat breads, U.S. hard red winter (HRW) is a versatile wheat. It is also an ideal choice for some types of Asian noodles, general purpose flour and as an improver for blending. It has medium to high protein of 10.0% to 13.0% (12% mb), medium hard endosperm, red bran, medium gluten content and mellow gluten.

For the miller, HRW brings consistency to the grist. A balanced mill optimizes flour extraction and helps maximize milling efficiency. Maintaining HRW as the foundation of the mill grist allows the miller to blend other U.S. classes, local wheat or wheat from other origins as cost advantages or product differentiation opportunities develop. For the baker, HRW benefits include improved baking characteristics, including dough stability and water absorption, either alone or as part of a blend. HRW delivers consistency as it is always available and provides the most reliable foundational ingredient for most wheat-based products.

Where is U.S. Hard Red Winter grown?

Grown in the Great Plains, Pacific Northwest (PNW) and California, hard red winter (HRW) is the most widely grown class in the United States. With such a large growing area, conditions can greatly vary among the production regions. HRW wheat can be exported from the Gulf and Pacific ports.

Please select your preferred language, report, and year, and click View Reports.

2022 U.S. Hard Red Winter Production

According to USDA’s Small Grains Annual Summary released September 30, 2022, production of the 2022 U.S. HRW crop is estimated to be 14.5 million metric tons (MMT), a 29% decrease from last year’s 20.4 MMT in 2021 and below the 5-year average of 18.7 MMT.

  • 2022 (MMT)
  • Total HRW production in states sampled
  • Gulf-exportable subtotal
  • PNW-exportable subtotal
  • California-Exportable Subtotal
  • Total U.S. HRW Production
  • 2022 (MMT)
  • 14.1
  • 10.3
  • 3.8
  • 0.1
  • 14.5
  • 2021 (MMT)
  • 20.1
  • 16.5
  • 3.5
  • 0.2
  • 20.4
  • 5-Year Average (MMT)
  • 18.4
  • 13.9
  • 4.4
  • 0.2
  • 18.7

*States sampled: California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.

U.S. Hard Red Winter Crop Quality Data Highlights

Variable growing conditions greatly influenced this year’s HRW wheat crop. Overall, the 2022 crop has generally good kernel characteristics with flour, dough and bake attributes equal to or better than last year and many of the 5-year averages. This crop meets or exceeds typical HRW contract specifications and should provide high value to customers.

U.S. HARD RED WINTER AVERAGE COMPOSITE DATA HIGHIGHTS
The table below provides highlights of total crop “Composite” averages. For full quality results, please see the U.S. Wheat Associates Crop Quality Report to be released late October 2021.

  • 2022 Average
  • Test Weight (lb/bu)
  • Test Weight (kg/hl)
  • Moisture (%)
  • Wheat Protein (%) 12% mb
  • Wheat Protein (%) 0% mb
  • Wheat Falling Number (sec)
  • 2022 Average
  • 61.0
  • 80.2
  • 10.2
  • 13.0
  • 14.8
  • 361
  • 2021 Average
  • 60.4
  • 79.5
  • 11.2
  • 11.9
  • 13.5
  • 372
  • 5-Year Average
  • 60.9
  • 80.0
  • 11.1
  • 11.6
  • 13.2
  • 370
 
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In South America, HRW is used for artesian and long fermentation processes as a major component in their flour formula. HRW is also used as a blending wheat with spring wheat from the US and Canada for industrial bread flour, and on a small scale for all purposes flour. In Brazil, HRW is typically used as the main component in their formulas because it works perfectly as a substitute for Argentine wheat (their most used wheat).

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In South America, HRW is used for artesian and long fermentation processes as a major component in their flour formula. HRW is also used as a blending wheat with spring wheat from the US and Canada for industrial bread flour, and on a small scale for all purposes flour. In Brazil, HRW is typically used as the main component in their formulas because it works perfectly as a substitute for Argentine wheat (their most used wheat).

Next


In South America, HRW is used for artesian and long fermentation processes as a major component in their flour formula. HRW is also used as a blending wheat with spring wheat from the US and Canada for industrial bread flour, and on a small scale for all purposes flour. In Brazil, HRW is typically used as the main component in their formulas because it works perfectly as a substitute for Argentine wheat (their most used wheat).

Next

U.S. Hard Red Winter Sample Collection and Analysis

GULF AND PACIFIC NORTHWEST HRW

Official grade and non-grade factors are determined on every sample collected. Functionality tests are conducted on ~75 composite samples categorized by growing region and protein ranges of <11.5%, 11.5 to 12.5% and >12.5%. Production weighted results are presented as Composite, Gulf-Tributary and PNW-Tributary averages.

  • Collection and testing of wheat samples was facilitated by Plains Grains Inc.
  • Samples were collected from elevators in 11 states by USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • Official grades were determined by the USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS).
  • Wheat and flour quality testing was conducted by USDA/ARS Hard Winter Wheat Quality Lab.

CALIFORNIA HRW

Official grade and non-grade factors are determined on every sample collected. Production weighted results are reported.

  • California Wheat Commission Laboratory collected, milled, tested and analyzed the samples.
  • USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) data is used to calculate official grades.

Quick Links

  • Crop Quality
  • Harvest Reports
  • Hard Red Winter
  • Hard Red Spring
  • Hard White
  • Soft White
  • Soft Red Winter
  • Durum

Additional Resources

  • Overview of U.S. Wheat Inspection
  • 2021 Sample and Collection Methods for U.S. Wheat
  • 2021 Solvent Retention Capacity Recommendations
  • 2021 USW Crop Quality and Educational Partners
  • 2021 Standard Deviation Tables
  • Wheat Flour Testing Methods Book
  • USDA NASS National Statistics and Publications for Wheat
  • USDA FGIS Official U.S. Grade Standards for Grain
  • USDA FAS Production, Supply and Demand

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