North Dakota Winter Wheat Expected to Jump

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's winter wheat crop is expected to be up dramatically over last year.

The Agriculture department pegs this year's crop at 33.1 million bushels, more than double last year's crop, thanks mostly to a big jump in acres. The North Dakota Wheat Commission says a large number of prevented planting acres in spring 2013 and favorable fall planting conditions were reasons for the jump in acres.

Spring wheat is North Dakota's staple crop. Farmers are expected to plant 5.9 million acres of spring wheat this year. They're expected to harvest about 720,000 acres of winter wheat.